ISLAMABAD, April 1: Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday reiterated his government’s decision to provide an additional 2,200 megawatts of electricity within a year.

He said Wapda had already been asked to overcome power shortage as soon as possible.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of the 525MW Chichoki Malian power project with the Dong Fang Corporation of China, he said the government’s policy was to ensure energy sufficiency at minimum cost.

“It is essential for us to achieve high GDP growth and to ensure that the people are not subjected to loadshedding,” he added.

The contract was signed by Water and Power Secretary Ismail Qureshi and Dong Fang Corporation chairman Si Zefu.

Mr Gilani said redeeming the alarming situation in the power sector was among his first priorities as the power shortage had arisen because of non-addition of new generation capacity over the past 10 years.

“The last major addition in power generation was carried out in 1994 and 96 under the People’s Party government due to which 4,500MW electricity was added.”

Once again, he said, the country was faced with a challenging situation to bridge the gap between power and supply demand in the shortest possible time.

He said the Chichoki Malian power plant had been approved by the government for fast-track implementation.

He expressed his pleasure that Dong Fang Corporation had concluded the agreement with Pepco in a very short time-frame.

“This plant located in the centre of high power demand area will provide much-needed power to the industry, business and the people.”

The prime minister said the government would soon announce the long-term policies with emphasis on coal-fired generation based on indigenous coal.

He said he had also announced several energy conservation measures which would be enforced by various institutions.

These include installation of 10 million energy saver bulbs which will be provided free to charitable institutions as well as women and child care homes.

He said all buildings would be required to use energy saver bulbs within the prescribed time-limit.

Private houses and businesses will be encouraged to use the saver bulbs on payments recoverable in installments through electricity bills, he said.

Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said if the power crisis was not averted it might result in economic downturn.He said although the public sector had a great responsibility to improve the power shortage, the private sector would also be encouraged to invest in the sector.—APP