ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that there was a need to impose energy emergency in the country to fulfil the demand of electricity.
The bench also observed that the energy situation could improve by accelerating the work on establishing power projects.The directions came from a three-member bench, consisting of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Gulzar Ahmed, during the hearing of a suo motu case regarding prolonged load shedding in the country.
“There are always two approaches to deal with a matter. One is a short-term and the other is a long-term. We should go for the long-term power generation projects, but in the meantime work should be accelerated on short-term projects,” remarked the chief justice. He maintained that the nation had high hopes from institutions and “these power distribution and generating institutions must come up to their expectations”.
The bench stressed the need for enforcing equitable power distribution to all and sundry. The chief justice questioned whether the court’s orders were followed in letter and spirit for the distribution of electricity.Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) Managing Director Zargham Khan replied that he had obtained written reports from all power distribution companies. However, the bench directed him to prepare a detailed chart describing the district-wise details of power distribution.
The bench was informed that many of the factories in Punjab had established their own power plants to meet the needs of electricity.The PEPCO MD told the court that 29 captive power plants were functioning in different factories in Punjab that could generate some 1,100 megawatts of electricity.
To a query, he said that these plants could generate to their full capacity provided they are given gas. Submitting a compliance report in the court, the PEPCO MD stated that Punjab was being given 66 percent of the total power generated. He said that KP had a 16 percent, Sindh 12 percent and Balochistan a 6 percent share in the energy. Attorney General Munir A Malik informed the court that the government would clear the circular debt of around Rs 300 billion until June 30. – DailyTimes
