November 02, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 20, 1428

LAHORE, Nov 1: The government will add 2,000MW to 3,500MW in a phased plan and the country will have a surplus power of 2,000MW by the end of 2010, claims Water and Power Minister Laiquat Ali Jatoi.

At a press conference held here at Wapda House on Thursday, he said $2 billion investment was being made to make the country self-sufficient in energy sector. Pakistan, he said, would start importing another 1,000MW of electricity from Iran in the next two to three years.

He said there would be no considerable power shortage this winter as many independent power producers (IPPs), previously on scheduled shutdown, had been brought on bar through hectic efforts of the authorities concerned.

Hydel generation had also increased due to extra releases from dams, he said and added the authority had also been able to save 890MW of electricity through its conservation measures. These factors had improved power situation in the country, he claimed.

The minister said the country would have a shortage of 1,000MW to 1,500MW shortage next summer. The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank had shown commitment to invest in power generation, which should help mitigate power woes, he added.

He said the government was also focusing on water storage for generating additional power. The Rs140 billion allocation in current Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) spoke for government priorities, he said and added: “Work is on schedule on detailed engineering design and tender document of Diamir-Bhasha dam is expected to be completed and construction work is likely to start from 2009. The government is also trying to build consensus among provinces for the Kalabagh Dam. Mirani and Sabak Zai dams have been completed and President Pervez Musharraf inaugurated Sadpara Power House last week.”

Responding to a question about the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), he said that he was against its promulgation as it would spare those who misappropriated public money.

He said Benazir Bhutto was a political leader and every politician should welcome her homecoming and try to compete with her politically.