Two holidays, markets’ closure at 7pm, ban on ACs proposed

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* IPPs may be paid Rs 116bn in 15 days to clear circular debt
* PM to announce measures to overcome energy crisis today

By Zeeshan Javaid

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would announce measures taken to curb the power crisis in a press briefing today (Thursday).

Decisions will be taken in view of proposals floated by energy committees. Due to absence of officials, the cabinet did not review the KESC issues, which are likely to be taken up in today’s (Thursday) meeting. The federal cabinet has already finalised steps with regards to the energy crisis. Sources said during the National Energy Crisis Summit, the four subcommittees on energy crisis had submitted their final proposals to curb the ongoing energy crisis across the country to Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Wednesday.

After the prime minister reviewed them, they would be announced and directed to be implemented across the country today. The sources said the committees had recommended two holidays in a week, shutting off markets at 7pm, banning billboards, air conditioners in government offices for five years and payment of circular debts.

Circular debts: The sources said, “The cabinet has also unanimously decided to pay the circular debts worth Rs 116 billion against the independent power plants (IPPs) and it is likely to be released within 15 days by the minister of finance after the prime minister’s approval.” On the other hand, reports from across the country revealed that the situation in Punjab was not good with 16- to 18-hour of load shedding in cities such as Faisalabad and Multan. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa is also hit by the power crisis, where outages have posed problems to domestic consumers as well as labourers. The situation in Balochistan is the worst with at least 13 districts going without electricity the entire Tuesday night.