ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Justice (retd) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso Tuesday directed the ministry of water and power to take immediate measures to improve power situation and use all available resources to ensure power generation is optimised so that minimum loadshedding is carried out in the country.

This direction was given by the prime minister after chairing a high level meeting, held to review the power generation plants in the country. The prime minister had taken notice of media reports of excessive loadshedding across the country.

It was decided that the finance ministry would inject an amount of Rs20 billion immediately to ensure fuel supply to thermal power plants.

The prime minister also directed that new gas reservoirs be identified for provision of supply of gas to thermal power plants to improve generation, fuel mix and reduce the electricity cost.

Khoso also has directed WAPDA to start an urgent drive to recover stuck up dues with the help of NAB, KESC and FBR to improve liquidity and overcome circular debt.

Additional Secretary Ministry of Water and Power Arshad Mirza informed the PM that the immediate cause of increase in loadshedding was disruption of gas supply to Uch Power Plant.

The caretaker premier said that all necessary measures should be taken to ensure that power installations, transmission lines and power installations are fully secured throughout the country.

“No installation should be left unattended and a security plan should be submitted spelling out detailed arrangements for their protection,” he said.

The PM directed that local administration should not only extend support to the law enforcing agencies but should also seek cooperation of the local community in protecting power installations.

He was told that duration of loadshedding in urban areas was 10-12 hours whereas in the rural and far flung areas it extended from 16 to 18 hours a day.

Khoso observed that the prime responsibility of his government was to hold general elections in the country. However, he said it was also the government’s duty to ensure that basic necessities like electricity are available to the masses.

He was told that power situation which had plunged two days back is now improving which he termed as encouraging.

The prime minister has directed the authorities concerned to firm up short and medium term plans with a view to minimize loadshedding in the country so that routine life of the citizens is least affected.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, ministries of finance, petroleum and water and power.