Key Takeaways
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered no loadshedding for more than two hours in any area of the country.
- The order was issued during a meeting on electricity load management, addressing increasing loadshedding nationwide.
- The US-Iran conflict disrupted RLNG supplies, leading to increased electricity costs and load management.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered that there should be no loadshedding for more than two hours in any area of Pakistan, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The order was issued during a meeting on electricity load management, where the premier expressed displeasure over the increasing loadshedding across the country.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, and other senior government officials were present at the meeting.
The meeting was informed that the supply of regasified liquefied natural gas (RLNG) had been affected by the ongoing situation in the Middle East, particularly the US-Iran conflict.
This disruption in RLNG supplies caused a reduction in electricity generation, leading to load management to maintain a balance between demand and supply.
PM Shehbaz ordered immediate measures to address the disruption in RLNG supplies, emphasizing the need to utilize all available resources effectively.
Keeping the situation in the region and future requirements in view, he made it clear that no area should experience electricity load shedding for more than two hours.
The US-Iran conflict, which began on February 28, has disrupted the supply of RLNG cargoes from Qatar via the Strait of Hormuz.
This resulted in the government purchasing five expensive cargoes from the spot market in July, with the sale price of RLNG witnessing the biggest-ever increase in the commodity’s decade-long history.
The cost of RLNG-based power generation surged by a record 242 per cent to Rs47.4 per unit in July, from less than Rs14 in April.
Furthermore, the prime minister ordered the formation of Consumer Grievance Redressal Committees at the distribution company level within a week to address public complaints related to electricity transmission and power supply issues.
He also directed that public representatives be included in these redressal committees to ensure better public engagement and resolution of issues.
