A.Rafay
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ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Water and Power Tasneem Qureshi told the Senate on Wednesday that the ministry can produce 21,000MW of hydropower if it were provided the necessary funds.
Responding to a question, he said no efforts had been made for generation of hydropower since 1996, which is why the country had become more dependent on electricity produced from gas and thermal sources. He admitted that although no big hydropower scheme had been completed during the current governments tenure but several schemes have been brought to the stage of tendering.
Qureshi informed the Senate that some gas reserves had been discovered in the country, which would help the government in overcoming gas shortfall during the coming winter season. The minister said the government was still providing Rs 25 billion as subsidy on power, and if this were withdrawn, the consumers bill would increase. He suggested that the subsidy should be targeted and asked legislators to help his ministry in this regard. To another question, Qurehsi informed the Upper House of parliament that the management of the KESC would come to the standing committee of Senate and the National Assembly whenever they were asked to. Responding to Senator Sughra Imam who, while noting that the government was providing gas to the KESC on a more subsidised rate, asked whether the concession was being passed on to general consumers or not, the minister said that an equal rate was charged to power consumers across the country. The Senate chairman deferred until next session a question by an ANP senator who complained that the Ministry of Water and Power had provided wrong answers to the senators questions.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
Responding to a question, he said no efforts had been made for generation of hydropower since 1996, which is why the country had become more dependent on electricity produced from gas and thermal sources. He admitted that although no big hydropower scheme had been completed during the current governments tenure but several schemes have been brought to the stage of tendering.
Qureshi informed the Senate that some gas reserves had been discovered in the country, which would help the government in overcoming gas shortfall during the coming winter season. The minister said the government was still providing Rs 25 billion as subsidy on power, and if this were withdrawn, the consumers bill would increase. He suggested that the subsidy should be targeted and asked legislators to help his ministry in this regard. To another question, Qurehsi informed the Upper House of parliament that the management of the KESC would come to the standing committee of Senate and the National Assembly whenever they were asked to. Responding to Senator Sughra Imam who, while noting that the government was providing gas to the KESC on a more subsidised rate, asked whether the concession was being passed on to general consumers or not, the minister said that an equal rate was charged to power consumers across the country. The Senate chairman deferred until next session a question by an ANP senator who complained that the Ministry of Water and Power had provided wrong answers to the senators questions.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
