MULTAN, Jan 14: The private sector has come forward to help Mepco (Multan Electric Power Company) meet power shortage of the area facing it this winter rather more acutely.

In this connection, a delegation of Mahmood Group of Industries consisting of Khwaja Muhammad Younis, Khwaja Muhammad Anis and Naeem Parhas Bhatti offered installing a thermal power station of 40 to 50 megawatt (MW) during their meeting with Mepco Chief Executive Brig Tariq Rasool (retired) here on Monday.

The delegation told the Mepco chief that their group would be able to install the plant in a period spanning nine to twelve months at a site purposed by Mepco.

The Mepco chief executive welcomed the offer, and said the company would request Pepco (Pakistan Electric Power Company) to approve the proposed project. He praised the gesture of industrialists in helping the company get rid of power shortage at a crucial juncture.

Mepco needs about 1,500MW on a daily-basis during winter. Current power consumption of the area ranges between 1,200 and 1,300MW while Mepco is being supplied around 800 to 900MW, rendering the company to manage shortage of around 500MW on a daily-basis.