ISLAMABAD June 30: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday directed the ministry of water and power and the Karachi Electric Supply Company to take immediate steps to bring an end to power breakdowns in Karachi.

He asked the KESC to prepare a comprehensive strategy to meet the gap between demand and supply of electricity on long-term basis and take short- medium and long- term steps to meet the growing demands of electricity in the city.

He sought a report on the situation within 24 hours.

He issued the directives at a meeting attended by a Muttahida Qaumi Movement delegation led by Mohammad Shamim Siddiqui, Minister for Communication, Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Minister for Water and Power, and senior government officials.

The prime minister decided to convene a follow-up with the KESC managing director, Wapda chairman and Mr Jatoi on Saturday to work out long- mid and short-term plans to meet electricity shortages faced by the city.

It is believed that the prime minister will ask Wapda, which supplies 650 megawatts electricity to the KESC, to provide more power to the mega city on emergency basis.

Earlier, the Muttahida delegation apprised the prime minister of the problems arising out of frequent power breakdowns in Karachi.

The prime minister was informed by the officials of the ministry that possibilities were being explored to supply electricity to Karachi from sources other than the KESC.

He advised the KESC to inform the consumers on daily basis through media about loadshedding schedule and ensure that its complaint centres remained open round the clock.

The prime minister directed Mr Jatoi to immediately interact with the KESC management and report the outcome to him which, according to him, should include tangible steps to improve the situation.

Kunwar Khalid Yunus told Dawn by telephone that the Muttahida delegation pointed out that the route of electric supply from Hubco through Jamshoro resulted in heavy line losses, and proposed its re-routing through the Baldia grid to minimise line losses.

They also suggested steps to curb heavy stealing of electricity in certain ‘areas of influential people’ and by some industrial units.

They asked the Wapda authorities to immediately enhance supply from Hubco to the optimum capacity of 1200mw.

They advised Wapda to enhance electricity supply between May and August by increasing its dormant and auxiliary power generation system in the central and northern regions of the country.