ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a meeting in Lahore onMonday toreview the economic situation and loadshedding, but no spokesperson spoke to the media about the deliberations since none was allowed to enter the venue.

Even Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed ignorance about the meeting.

A source in the Prime Minister Office (PMO) told Dawn that the prime minister huddled with some of his close aides like Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Power and Energy Minister Khurram Dastagir and Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik.The huddle came in the wake of reports that the electricity shortfall had gone up to 5000 megawatts, forcing power cuts ranging between four and 13 hours.

Prime Minister Sharif had directed the authorities concerned on Saturday to work out an `emergency plan` for bringing down loadsheddinghours.

NA speaker meets PM National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf called on the prime minister on Monday to discuss matters like carrying out legislation for public welfare.

Shehbaz Sharif said the nation had great expectations from parliament as it represented the people.

He said the country was facing severe socio-eco-nomic challenges and all issues should be resolved in parliament.

The prime minister said the government was taking measures to mitigate the common man`s hardship.

He approved a plan to establish a hospital for women and children and a campus of the Punjab University in Gujar Khan.

The NA speaker briefed the prime minister on important legislative initiatives taken by parliament.

He also expressed his conñdence that the economic policies of the incumbent government would steer the country out of these challenges.

The speaker also briefed the prime minister on the austerity steps taken by the National Assembly Secretariat.