ISLAMABAD, Oct 16: Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf directed the National Power Control Centre (NPCC) on Thursday to prepare a plan of action to minimise loadshedding in the country.

He said the authorities concerned should work jointly to cope with the challenge posed by the massive loadshedding which was not only causing inconvenience to people but was also affecting the economy.

The minister was presiding over a meeting with the National Power Control Centre (NPCC) on the power situation.

NPCC general manager Abdul Qadir Khan informed the meeting about the steps being taken to handle the crisis.

He said that low flows of water from Tarbela and Mangla had affected hydroelectric generation and inadequate gas supply to some plants had reduced power generation. As a result, power shortage has soared to above 4000MW.

The minister warned that unannounced loadshedding would not be tolerated and violators would be punished.

He asked officials of the water ministry to approach the ministry of petroleum to ensure adequate supply of gas to power plants. He urged provincial governments to review their indents on a realistic basis from Tarbela and Mangla dams.

The meeting decided a number of measures to expedite repairs of some power units.