Power system to be restored by evening: Khawaja Asif
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ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif on Monday said that the power system, which was attacked by insurgents in Balochistan, will be restored by this evening.
According to a report on the state-run Radio Pakistan website, Asif told reporters that steps have been taken to improve the security of power pylons and an inquiry has been ordered. The ministry has also been instructed to submit a report within 48 hours, he said.
Asif ruled out speculations that the power shortage was a result of the oil crisis and said that Pakistan State Oil has booked 12 orders which will start to arrive by Wednesday.
He also said that the ministry is making efforts to bring loadshedding to zero in industrial areas within the next few days. To avoid complete power breakdowns in the future, the minister said that USAID and the China State Grid have been asked for assistance.
After reopening of canals, there has been an increase in hydel power generation, Asif said, adding that the release of water from Tarbela and Mangla will bring 6,000 megawatts of electricity to the system.
He also said that as per directions from the Supreme Court, the government is making efforts to provide "equitable loadshedding" from Karachi to Peshawar, adding that power tariffs are also being reduced. As the agreement with K-Electric expired, the government plans to contact the electric company for a new agreement, he said.
While talking about overcoming loadshedding, Asif said that it is most likely to end by the summer of 2017.
PM Nawaz orders inquiry into electricity breakdown
Earlier today, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the Ministry of Water and Power to present a report on the technical aspect of the electricity breakdown within 48 hours.
The premier issued the directives while chairing a high-level meeting on the power breakdown at the Prime Minister House. He also directed that a comprehensive system should be in place so that such a blackout can be avoided in the future.
Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif briefed Nawaz on factors responsible for the massive breakdown and updated him on the current power supply situation in the country. Asif said that the situation is gradually improving and soon the system would be normalised.
Nawaz also directed law enforcement agencies to ensure improved security of high transmission lines and urged them to urgently develop a strategy.
Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar and other high officials were also in attendance.
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On DawnNews
Comments (62) Closed
Jan 26, 2015 01:33pm
just die!
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Jan 26, 2015 01:35pm
Forming inquiries, committees and comissions is an exercise in futility. When was the last time an inquiry or a commission led to anything meaningful?
'Asif said that it is most likely to end by the summer of 2017'. Should I laugh or what?
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Jan 26, 2015 01:38pm
No one trust you any more. Quit before you are quited.
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Jan 26, 2015 01:44pm
Lot of huff and puff in those words.
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Jan 26, 2015 01:44pm
If Pakistan could get a penny for every time the government lied, we would be the worlds richest nation.
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Jan 26, 2015 01:48pm
His man needs to be sacked...and held accountable.....does Nawaz Sharf have the guts to do this ?..........no points for the right answer.
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Jan 26, 2015 01:49pm
Mr. Asif do you still think that you can fool us with your false promises? You guys have even beaten the records of bad governance of incumbent PPP's government.
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Jan 26, 2015 02:02pm
If Pakistan would exist till 2017, and if it does, it will be another 30 years to be self sufficient hopefully. Where is the promise of SS before elections that load shedding will be finished within 90 days after coming into power.
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Jan 26, 2015 02:04pm
May be its me only or someone else do, we have seen different governments in last 7 decades. It seems this is the least trustworthy and useless of all. I cannot comment any more than this government is even less competent than Zardari's five years.
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Jan 26, 2015 02:04pm
Only to fail again a week later. Your incompetence is to be blamed more then the miscreants. Shortage of furnace oil is the main reason behind grid overload and shutdown rather then few miscreants blowing up some transmission lines.
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Jan 26, 2015 02:08pm
Whatsoever nawaz government is doing well in restructuring the power infrastructure as promised earlier ....without their expertise the crisis of shortage cannot be overcome so quickly ....critics should have taken a back seat
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Jan 26, 2015 02:13pm
@007 are you serious? Which expertise you are talking about? Maybe nepotism or making false promises? Expertise ermmm nandi power plant? Oil shortages? Or maybe they want us to prosper maybe stone age is in their mind
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Jan 26, 2015 02:28pm
"Nawaz also directed law enforcement agencies to ensure improved security of high transmission lines and urged them to urgently develop a strategy."
Mr PM you can never provide security of thousands of miles of transmission line, nobody can and countries do not run on urgently developed strategies. Whole country is run with a single transmission grid, a huge strategic security laps in itself. You need a backup national grid for fall back and some more electricity to run through these wires.
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Jan 26, 2015 02:33pm
The honorable PM and his ministers are completely clueless in running the affairs of the country.
I understand that we have deep problems and challenges that cannot be fixed in the short term but my question is how is the able PM and his loyal ministers approaching the issues plaguing the country?
Even at corporate board level, strategies are formulated, right talent is hired or put in place to lead functions of the corporate and finally tactics are devised for short, medium and long term to lead to the successful implementation of strategies
Here in running the country affairs I do not hear or see any professionalism of any order!!
Our democracy is a farce which has resulted in nothing for the country and its stakeholders for the last seven years.
We as the shareholders really need to assert our power just like if we were the shareholders of a corporation
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Jan 26, 2015 02:34pm
I love the picture of his dawn uses now. It looks like he's having a muscle spasm - what, did somebody ask him to Do something? *Gag*
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Jan 26, 2015 02:42pm
evening, morning, 3 months, 6 months........... new committee, new minister, ministers changing hands like 4 x 400 mt rally race.......... whats happening with our power and elect ministry ?........... will they ever offer electricity for every single citizen 24/7x365 days ?
yet these govts talk big and bigger............ nuclear nation and no electricity. no resolve no respite for us........... when they leaders will understand and prioritize our needs ?
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Jan 26, 2015 02:56pm
"Power system will be restored by this evening"
We heard this two days ago and also that petrol situation will be normal within 48 hours ... that was last week. As usual leaders making the people fool and the people buy it like its going out of fashion. Simply pathetic.
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Jan 26, 2015 03:06pm
Another deadline, who is gonna believe them....
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Jan 26, 2015 03:14pm
Hahaha where are the N leaguees
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Jan 26, 2015 03:23pm
Atleast N admit that. Good. So it will take 3,5 ys as anticipated.
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Jan 26, 2015 03:30pm
PM didn't suspend key officials of the Water & Power Ministry for the power failures before conducting any inquiry as he did in the fuel crisis. How did he know the people involved with fact finding and inquiry of matter which is being held after the show? Secondly Water & Power ministry is giving the impression of miscreants blowing up trains of the uch power plant and some times associating it with technical grounds. The fact of the matter is non payments by the water & power ministry for the furnace oil to PSO which in fact has led to the power shortages. The power shortages have been faced by the nation for the past many years which clearly depicts that the each time the deficit electricity generation can not be associated to technical grounds or miscreants blowing up. Grow Up Now & Shame on you.
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Jan 26, 2015 03:32pm
@007 only someone who does not use petrol, gas, electricity or water would say something like that
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Jan 26, 2015 03:34pm
Ok, Let's wait till 2017, for another deadline
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Jan 26, 2015 03:47pm
End of load shedding by summer of 2017; it is a lie, plain and simple. It may be the case only if entire industry shuts down and people get used to living without electricity appliances.
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Jan 26, 2015 03:49pm
The oil changes colour and taste in the evening and sharpens Judgement.Understandable.
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Jan 26, 2015 03:51pm
@jj pessimism is a sin.Nations have existed without oil for centuries.
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Jan 26, 2015 03:54pm
The Pakistani Nation is tired of promises and deadlines.
Pakistan wants results NOW before it gets any more late.
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Jan 26, 2015 03:56pm
Continuously lying minister saheb, hiding behind insurgents, improved security steps will be taken and inquiry ordered, these are the repeated statement at every crises. People of Pakistan understands that you and your govt will never be ashamed for the failure
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Jan 26, 2015 03:58pm
He looks like a Jiant on screen but acts like a midget.
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Jan 26, 2015 04:02pm
N League in partnership with Zardari
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Jan 26, 2015 04:14pm
I feel like laughing at these statements.
Khuwaja Asif was going to supreme court continuously against PPP. Look what his government is doing.
Forget about making excuses. You and your party PML-Ns governance is completely exposed infront of everyone.
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Jan 26, 2015 04:18pm
After handing over Internal Security and Foreign policy to Army, we should do the same for all other portfolios. These incompetent and corrupt Politicians have always destroyed the country.
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Jan 26, 2015 04:35pm
I think we should take power from afghanistan
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Jan 26, 2015 04:37pm
I couldn't understand what he is saying...the only thing I understood is that he doesn't know what happened and he doesn't know what is going on...hahahahaha
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Jan 26, 2015 04:40pm
Yes Mr Khawaja ......what a joke are we suppose to believe you .....hahahahahah
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Jan 26, 2015 04:44pm
Just leave GO NAWAZ GO
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Jan 26, 2015 04:51pm
N League waley are no different from MQM, both work very well under the Army...this time both are made to work under Zardari
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Jan 26, 2015 04:59pm
What about your resignation?
We don't want to see your ugly face.
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Jan 26, 2015 05:01pm
btw N leaguee brozz he said the gov will TRY to finish loadshedding by 2017. Not confirming it. Just suggesting
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Jan 26, 2015 05:23pm
Power to be restored by this evening is good news, But long will this load shedding continue Sirji, We are moving backwards in time soon we may have to use bullock carts to go to work if things continue like this.
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Jan 26, 2015 05:37pm
Pakistan´s Infrastructure, Economy, Agriculture, Railway + + + are i RUINS YET we are a Nuclear Country what good is it for the common man. He is SICK he needs only ROTI, KAPDA, MAKAN, Rozi Roti & PEACE . Dont underestimate the power of the common man.
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Jan 26, 2015 05:38pm
@Sunny CM Punjab plans to put up solar panels on each house HAHAHA
No power shortage
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Jan 26, 2015 06:18pm
Incompetent people. They are only good for putting money in lottery tickets and local "Kamaitee". The bottom feeding speculators in the stock market are more intelligent than this lot.
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Jan 26, 2015 06:34pm
Reading the comments only one conclusion is drawn... victimized... We live in a society of victimization, where people are much more comfortable being victimized than actually standing up for themselves. SO SUFFER....
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Jan 26, 2015 07:14pm
Just imagine this is only winter. What will happen in summers ?
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Jan 26, 2015 07:19pm
Wow, another deadline. PML (N) govt came with promises and it would end with promises. Why not the hones Khwajagan promise that after 10 times remaining in govt. they would solve this problem in 2065.
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Jan 26, 2015 07:40pm
@Ibrahim spot on. That is so true.
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Jan 26, 2015 08:09pm
Shame on you Khawaja Asif and the PM for another fiasco of incompetence. The entire country again shuts down. You are hiding behind excuses and not facing the reality because you all ie the cabinet and parliament are clueless and incompetent and corrupt. Resign and get out
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Jan 26, 2015 08:52pm
Will someone ask him what is the basis of his statement?
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Jan 26, 2015 10:30pm
In private sector a person can be fired for incompetence. Why isn't it relevant in Public sector? Why can't a minister be fired for incompetent?
What is the right approach for the citizens to take?
can any legal guru comment please? Does our constitution allow us the citizens to take action so that the sorry bunch can be sent home earlier. Otherwise, 2 more years can actually drown the whole country.
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Jan 26, 2015 10:31pm
Khwaja Sb, I happen to be a PML(N) supporter, and have to say that of all the ministers of NS' cabinet, you have disappointed me the MOST!!! You have demonstrated yourself TO BE someone who DOES LOTS OF TALK but has no clue about "Walking the Walk." While I think Abid She Ali has been working very hard, you have proven to be the BIGGEST WHITE ELEPHANT in NS' cabinet! Utterly disappointed, really!
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Jan 26, 2015 10:39pm
@turbo amen to that
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Jan 26, 2015 10:59pm
It looks u are overloaded with so many work; please tell to appoint a Defence Minister who can release u from excessive workload.
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Jan 26, 2015 11:25pm
Khawaja Asif please tell the truth why there is a power crises in the country. You can fool some people some time but not all the people all the time. Your government has incompetent people who will never be able to solve the problems of the common man on the streets. Your government has lost the credibility to govern. Get people on merit before it is too late for PML-N to remain in power. Brothers Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif the choice now is yours
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Jan 27, 2015 01:33am
May be appoint another person to assist you in this ministry. Let me see, how about Kashmala Tariq. You both have good understanding, may be with an extra hand you will be able to run this ministry in a better way.
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Jan 27, 2015 01:49am
@Parvez Accountable for what? Balochi militants blowing up towers because their leader was murdered and no apology to them or for 16 years of negligence. So tell me what the Minister should be accountable for?
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Jan 27, 2015 02:11am
No petrol and now no electricity. Fantastic. Hello TV media where are you? Did not see any strong response. Neither from people. Why? Is it because the Federal Government is now from a particular province? While 2-3 years back TV and people were bombarded with corruptions, bad governance, and what not. Was it because then Federal Government was from another province? Shame. Shame. Pakistan.
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Jan 27, 2015 02:27am
In spite of all this If polls were held tomorrow, I am sure PMLN will win with simple majority in Punjab again :)
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Jan 27, 2015 02:41am
Mr. Minister will you like to explain how this electric deficit of almost 7000MW going to be met? what are the measures being undertaken for this? As far as i know there are none? So it is again same baseless tall claim as your predecessors had been propagating. I really feel pity for pakistani nation. Such a capable and intelligent nation being represented by a bunch of incompetent, disgraceful lot.
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Jan 27, 2015 03:39am
In 2012, India faced somewhat similar Black-out in Northern, North-east and Eastern power grids. Though the effect wasn't such drastic as in most parts people felt like there has been frequent power cuts only. India's power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde took responsibility and resigned soon after. Mind you that Sushil Kumar Shinde was a man behind Over 80000mw of electricity projects in his tenure then.
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Jan 27, 2015 04:02am
The power will be restored in the next few hours. Wait for the next blackout.
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Jan 27, 2015 06:19am
Can we all just LOL?
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