PAKISTAN

 ISLAMABAD: Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf Thursday said the government has imposed a ban on new village electrification in a bid to conserve energy and minimize power cuts.

Speaking at function organized by Islamabad Chamber of Commerce here he said the ban would remain intact till the normalization of the current power situation.

The minister said protection to commerce and industries was the government top priority and all out efforts were being made to provide more facilities to this sector.

He said the government would extend full support to the industrialists for setting up their own 2 to 5 MW power plants.

Pervez said the government inherited power crisis and there was a gap between supply and demand of the electricity.

Unfortunately, no concrete planning was made to explore new venues for generating electricity.

He said no unannounced load-shedding was being observed across the country after the measures taken by the government for conservation of the energy.

He said 1000 MW would be added soon to the national grid station which would help improve the situation.

Replying to the demand of the traders to extend market closure timing till 9 pm, he said the issue would be discussed in the review meeting scheduled to be held after 15 days.

Ashraf said the government was taking pragmatic steps to generate more and more energy and expedite work on all the pending projects.