LAHORE: Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif has said that the government has decided to induct about 10,000MW of electricity from coal and gas sources in another three years to overcome power crisis.
He said this while speaking at a seminar organised by the Wapda on completion of its 57 years of foundation in 1958. The minister was the chief guest, while Wapda Chairman Zafar Mahmood, former Wapda chairmen Lt-Gen (r) Zulifkar Ali Khan, Tariq Hamid and Syed Raghib Abbas Shah and others were also present there.
Kh Asif claimed that the power crisis would be vanished in next three years as enough electricity would be added to the national grid from the under-construction power projects. He said that the results of decrease in oil prices will trickle down to the masses and it will help the country save around $3 billion in foreign exchange.
Urging the consumers, the minister said that the people should stop wasting energy and they should also cut down extravagant use of water and gas, which can save up to 1,500MW. He said that the power ministry was not mulling over slashing electricity bills in the light of the lower oil prices and instead the saved money would be used to repay circular debt.
In the wake of Indian violation of Indus Water Treaty, he warned of water crisis in the country and said that the government would raise the issue at all appropriate forums. About Bhasha Dam, Asif said that compensations equivalent to the land price of Islamabad were being paid to the affected people.
Addressing on the occasion, Wapda Chairman Zafar Mahmood said that Wapda has played an important role in socio-economic development of the country for last 57 years. He said that water storage capacity of the country increased from 0.15 million acre feet (MAF) in 1958 to 18MAF in 2015 thanks to the role played by Wapda. Likewise, Zafar said, the electricity generation capacity registered an increase from 119MW in 1958 to 17,000MW till 2007 when Wapda was unbundled, and now its mandate has been limited to operation and maintenance of existing hydel power stations and construction of new water and hydropower projects.
