ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday took notice of prolonged power outages in various parts of the country and expressed displeasure over increasing loadshedding in several cities.
Presiding over a high-level meeting on the country’s power load management situation, the prime minister was informed that electricity generation had declined due to disruptions in RLNG supplies caused by the recent regional situation, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and transmission difficulties.As a result, load management had become necessary to maintain a balance between electricity supply and demand.
The prime minister directed the authorities to take immediate measures to address disruptions in RLNG supplies, keeping in view the regional situation and future requirements. He ordered the effective utilisation of all available resources to ensure that no area faced more than two hours of loadshedding.The prime minister also ordered the establishment of Consumer Grievance Redressal Committees at the level of power distribution companies (Discos) to address public complaints related to electricity transmission and other issues across the country.
He directed that the committees should include public representatives and be made operational within one week.
The meeting was told that electricity consumers could lodge complaints through helpline 118, after which they would be provided with a complaint token number and an estimated time for resolution.
Officials said that, except for six electricity consumers in Rajanpur district, power supply to consumers across the country was currently not affected by monsoon rains.
Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal (planning), Ahad Khan Cheema (economic affairs), Musadik Malik (climate change), Attaullah Tarar (information and broadcasting), Ali Pervez Malik (petroleum) and Awais Leghari (power division), Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kiani and senior government officials attended the meeting.
Meanwhile, in line with the government’s directives, Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) Chief Executive Khalid Mahmood ordered the cancellation of all approved system maintenance shutdowns across the Iesco region.He also directed that in case of a gap between electricity demand and supply, load management in any area should not exceed two hours.
Mr Mahmood directed all field formations to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers and resolve electricity-related complaints at the earliest. Chief Engineer Operations Zahid Saleem Usmani was designated as thefocal person to ensure uninterrupted power supply and deal with any emergency situation.
The Iesco chief also clarified that individual consumer complaints and transformerrelated faults should not be considered loadshedding and advised consumers to report such complaints through the company’s helpline 118 for prompt redressal.