Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir says five thousand and sixty-three megawatts of electricity has been added to the national grid over the last fifteen months by the coalition government.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad today, he said this included 1980 megawatts from Thar Coal, 720 megawatts from Karot Hydropower project, 1100 megawatts from K-3 nuclear power plant and 1263 megawatts from Haveli Bahadar Shah RLNG plant. He said criminal negligence was meted out to completion of these power projects by the previous government.

The Minister for Power said that it was because of enhancement in electricity generation capacity that the power supply situation during this summer season remained better when compared with the past year. He said we have also inaugurated a project for import of one hundred megawatts of electricity from Iran for Gwadar.

Khurram Dastgir said that we have also operationalized Thar-Matiari transmission line for supply of electricity from Thar coal projects. He said work on three more transmission lines is in progress to improve the transmission system.

The Minister for Power said that the circular debt which was standing at record level of 2467 billion rupees in March last year, has been brought down by 157 billion rupees to 2310 billion rupees. He said we have stopped the increase in circular debt.

Khurram Dastgir said the government is now focusing on renewable energy. He said solar power projects will be offered to the friendly countries in the Gulf countries this week for investment. He was confident that the solar projects will attract massive investment.

Responding to a question, the Minister for Power clarified that no increase has been made in the power tariff of those who use less than two hundred units per month.

Source: Radio Pakistan