LAHORE, June 4: Newly-inducted Federal Minister for Water and Power Ahmad Mukhtar claims reduction in outages “within days”.

Talking to media at Lahore airport on Monday, he said: “I have firmed up plans for the next few days, few weeks and few months – progressively reducing loadshedding. All these plans will now be executed on a priority basis. This is a promise that I offer to the people of Pakistan.”

Apart from regularising loadshedding, the minister said the focus would also be placed on recovery of bills from defaulters.

“Again, there are no tall claims but people would remember me for the ruthless recovery campaign.”

He said all those who failed to perform would be shown the door. “We have poor-performance complaints against the Managing Director of National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC) and he was removed on Monday. Others will have to perform to stay at their seats.”

About Karachi, he said: “I have just taken over and asked for a briefing on the issue. All these issues would be sorted out in due course of time.”