Punjab Energy Minister starts fixing up energy issue in the province

Lahore: Punjab Energy Minister Ch. Sher Ali Khan has directed Chief Executive Officers of power distribution companies in Punjab to provide a complete data of demand and supply situation of the electricity as well as list of consumers of different categories besides the tube-wells for agriculture purposes within a week for the purpose of evolving a comprehensive strategy for controlling energy crisis. He issued these instructions while presiding over a meeting of Chief Executive Officers of Energy Department here today. Senior officers of the department were also present on the occasion.

The Minister directed that officers of Energy Department and WAPDA should maintain a close coordination so that short, medium and long term projects should be evolved through solid planning. He said that WAPDA has a key role in power supply and assured WAPDA officers that provincial government will extend full cooperation in the recovery of arrears and power theft. He said that industrial sector is the backbone of national economy therefore measures are being taken for uninterrupted supply of power to industrial institutions. He said that generation of energy through different sources will also be considered.

Chaudhary Sher Ali said that Chief Minister Punjab Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is determined to control energy problem and all out measures are being taken for this purpose. He said that modern technology will also be utilized for providing relief to the masses. Earlier, Provincial Minister presided over separate meetings regarding generation of power from solar energy in Cholistan and up-gradation of existing system of WAPDA.