ISLAMABAD: Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir on Friday said that the power situation in country will improve from May 1 (Sunday) as a result of improved availability of Re-Gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) and furnace oil to the power plants.

Addressing a news conference along with Minister of State Hashim Notezai in Islamabad, he pointed out that the country was currently facing load shedding because of shortage of fuel and closure of certain power plants owing to maintenance and technical faults.

The minister said steps had been taken at the power distribution companies to ensure that the situation did not deteriorate further during the days of Eid ul Fitr. He said the Discos had been asked to ensure availability of extra transformers to meet with any situation.

Khurram Dastgir said, “We are also watching the revenue targets of Discos and request will also be made to the law enforcement agencies to check power pilferage.”

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“The problem in Pakistan is not of electricity generation but of availability of fuel. Availability of gas will start from Sunday while of coal will begin the next week which will help overcome the shortage of electricity,” he said.

Dastgir said Thar coal and Port Qasim coal plants would begin working from May 1. He said the hydel generation of electricity would begin in June significantly improving the electric supply.

He blamed the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) government for the energy crisis.

“The former government is responsible for the energy crisis as some plants are closed because of its incompetence. The issue would not have surfaced, if the previous government would have timely arranged fuel,” he said admitting that some of the plants were shut down for renovation.

He said Eid holidays of the employees working at power generation plants had been cancelled.