ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: After trying various measures to overcome the energy crisis, Prime Minister Mohammedmian Soomro on Thursday directed the government to hold consultations with the provinces and trade and industry for introducing a five-day working week.

Presiding over a meeting held to discuss proposals of the Energy Conservation Agency (Enercon) to minimise wastage of electricity, the premier stressed that a decision about five-day week should be taken after comprehensive consultations with all stakeholders.

Official estimates show that five-day week would save 828MW of electricity which could be used in industry and agriculture. The measure has already tested twice.

Other proposals made by Enercon include phased replacement of inefficient thermal power plants, large-scale use of energy saving bulbs, energy efficient water geysers and stove burners.

The prime minister also directed that all future building designs must be based on energy efficient codes so as to use maximum sunlight for heating and lighting of buildings and houses.

The meeting was informed that the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) had already started on promoting CHP/Combined cycle of enhancing capacities in 33 Pepco generators from the current average of 25 per cent generation efficiency to around 50 per cent, which could save up to 875MW electricity. The plan would be completed by May 25 this year.

The meeting was informed that replacement of existing lights with 10 million energy savers would cost Rs1 billion but it would save 500MW. Replacement of 23 existing generation machines would cost $650 million but would save electricity to the tune of 856MW.

The meeting also decided to consider 50 per cent tax credit for solar geysers and discourage the unregulated import of inefficient domestic appliances.

The prime minister said that additional generation of electricity alone was not the answer to the energy needs of a developing country like Pakistan. Energy conservation, he said , was as important as energy generation. Therefore, a long-term strategy needed both to enhance the generation capacity and also to encourage power conservation.

He said the government would encourage the private sector to invest in the power sector.

Mr Soomro also directed public sector enterprises and institutions to undertake periodic energy audit to ensure economic use of energy and avoid wastage.

He observed that every activity directed towards energy conservation must have a timeline for its implementation and constant review should be made to check progress.