LAHORE, Nov 3: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has stressed the need for evolving a comprehensive strategy to overcome power shortage through short-term and long-term planning.

He was addressing a joint meeting of presidents of chambers of commerce and industry, Pepco and SNGPL managing directors, chief executives of Lesco, Fesco, Mepco, Jesco and industrialists here on Monday to consider remedial measures to overcome electricity shortage.

He said maximum electricity would have to be supplied to industrial sector for development. The provincial government was working on different hydel and coal-based thermal power generation projects for meeting the energy requirements of industry.

He said comprehensive planning was required to check the wastage for ensuring maximum supply of electricity and gas to industrial sector. All segments of society would have to realise their responsibility in this regard because if adequate power was not made available to industry it would not only aggravate economic crisis but would also increase unemployment.

He said it was due to power shortage that he had imposed a ban on use of air-conditioners not only in his own office but also in all government offices across the province. He directed the commerce and investment secretary to arrange a joint meeting of industrialists and Wapda and Sui gas authorities to formulate comprehensive recommendations to cope with energy crisis. He directed the secretary to consider installation of solar bulbs on all major roads to save electricity.

The Pakistan Electric Power Company managing-director informed the participants that loadshedding had been reduced due to increase in hydel generation as a result of release of water in canals from dams. Wapda could, however, face power shortage due to closure of canals in December and January. Efforts were being made to provide maximum electricity to industrial units which were now being supplied power for about 18 hours.

In response to a demand of industrialists, he announced a further relief of two hours in loadshedding for industries.

Industrialist Mian Mansha and chambers’ presidents pointed out the problems faced by industries due to shortage of electricity and gas. They said small and medium enterprises had been seriously affected by loadshedding as they could not afford installation of their own generators. The industrialists demanded that gas loadshedding should be on an equitable basis in the country.