ISLAMABAD: Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Power (Power Division) that the Power Division is making concerted efforts to reduce the price of electricity by intensifying anti-theft campaigns and reducing line losses.
The Committee which met with Muhammad Idress in the Chair and attended by MNAs; Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Raja Qamer ul Islam, Chaudhry Naseer Ahmed Abbas, Rana Muhammad Hayat Khan, Khurshid Ahmed Junejo, Syed Waseem Hussain, Junaid Akbar, Malik Anwar Taj, Sher Ali Arbab, Haji Imtiaz and Ali Ahmed Saudhry Muhammad Iqbal Khan. The meeting was also attended by senior staff of the Ministry of Energy (Energy Division) and its affiliated departments
The Secretary of the Ministry of Energy (Department of Energy) informed the committee about the work and performance of the Ministry and its affiliated departments. The Secretary informed that the Division of Energy dealt with matters related to the development of energy resources of the country, electric power industry, liaison with the international engineering organization in energy, federal agencies and institutions for the support of special studies in energy, etc.
He further informed that the ministry has plans to develop large-scale alternative renewable energy (ARE) projects, including hydropower projects, local manufacturing of solar panels and solarization of agricultural tube wells. While discussing the matter raised by Muhammad Iqbal regarding disconnection, over-invoicing and unannounced load shedding of electricity in erstwhile FATA, the Power Minister informed the committee that in the current budget a subsidy of Rs 65 billion has been given to erstwhile FATA. The Committee directed the Peshawar Electric Supply Company to provide detailed information on the said matter in the next meeting of the Committee.
