ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday decided to shut down shops, marriage halls and restaurants in Islamabad at 8pm, 10pm and 11pm respectively. The same pattern would be replicated in Punjab to set an example for other provinces, saving hundreds of megawatts of electricity.

Take a look: PM directs ministry to consider early closure of shops to save power

This was decided in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCE) which continued for nearly three hours under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to review progress on power projects.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also directed Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Power Younus Dagha to personally supervise all the projects being planned under the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor on a daily basis in order to determine appropriate deliverables for the agreed energy projects in view of the upcoming visit of China's political leadership.

Nawaz also directed officials of the Ministry of Water and Power to ensure that Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) based projects are completed within the prescribed timelines.

The participants of the meeting informed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that one LNG terminal has been set up and the second one would be ready by next month while both plants have investment from Pakistani companies worth US$1 billion.

PM Nawaz was also updated on the planned 1100-km North-South Gas pipeline which is expected to be completed in the first half of 2017.

Nawaz reiterated that timelines decided in the last meeting of the CCE for completion of the open and combined cycle plants of projects for generation of 3600 MW must be strictly followed.

The premier directed federal ministers who were present in the CCE to hold meetings with provincial chief ministers and give them a detailed briefing regarding the need and urgency of conservation measures — including early closure of shops, marriage halls and restaurants.

It was decided that production of efficient electrical appliances consuming less electricity would be encouraged — including fans, florescent lamps, air conditioners, motors, refrigerators, washing machines and Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) units.

The meeting also gave approval of energy audit and energy conservation awareness in industries to save their bills as well as consumption of electricity.

PM Nawaz directed that issue of payment between Ministry of Water and Power and Pakistan State Oil and a comprehensive strategy be devised by the Ministries of Water and Power and Petroleum and Natural Resources in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Adviser to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali, Minister of State for Petroleum Jam Kamal Khan, Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi, Special Assistant to PM Musaddik Malik, Punjab MPA Rana Sanaullah, Secretary to PM Javed Aslam, Secretary Water and Power Younus Dagha, Secretary Finance Waqar Masood, Secretary Petroleum Arshad Mirza, Secretary Information, Muhammad Azam and other senior government officials.