OKARA, April 17: With the cooperation of the Punjab government, the Wapda has launched a three-month scheme to supply power to the agriculture sector at 33 per cent reduced rates.

This was disclosed by Wapda chairman Lt-Gen Zulfiqar Ali Khan at an open kutchery on the eve of inauguration of the newly-set up rural sub-division, Deepalpur.

He said the Federal government had allocated Rs16 billion for this purpose under the Khushhal Pakistan Programme.

The Wapda had asked Nazimeen to identify the names of villages for electrification, he said.

After Wapda’s restructuring, he said there would be different tariff rates in all the eight distribution companies, but efforts were being made to keep the tariff uniform across the country which would be called the ‘Single Buyer Model System’.

Wapda was planning to install power plant to be run through coal and gas and not with the furnace oil, he said.

The chairman said the Wapda would be eligible to provide cheaper electricity under the 2025 Vision Programme after the completion of hydel projects.

After 20 years, he said, the electricity would become cheaper when the agreements with private power companies would be ended.

ELECTROCUTED: A youth was electrocuted and a minor was crushed to death by a speeding truck here on Wednesday.

Muhammad Shafiq of 13/IL received a shock when he touched the water pump which was electrified. He was shifted to a local clinic where he died.

Salman was crossing the road when a speeding truck hit him to death on the spot.

Police have arrested the truck driver.