Summary Asif said majority of the people who were protesting were power thieves and defaulters.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif said that the masses will have to bear loadshedding for ten hours during the next two months.
Addressing a joint press conference with Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid and Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali in Islamabad, Khawaja Asif said majority of the people who were protesting against blackouts were power thieves and defaulters. He said Sehr/Aftar timings will be later exempted from loadshedding.
The Minister said the government will discontinue electricity supplies to feeders giving massive losses.
Khawaja Asif said electricity shortfall has increased to 3200 Megawatt this week due to use of air-conditioners.
He said with completion of Nandipur power and up-gradation of several other projects, 2,200 MW electricity would be added to the national grid soon.
The minister urged power consumers to clear their dues in time, otherwise his ministry will take action indiscriminately.
Khawaja Asif said circular debt has again surged to 197 billion rupees due to power theft and slow recoveries.
He, however, said due to aggressive campaign against pilferage, over 3.2 billion rupees have been so far recovered from the defaulters of electricity bills.
He reiterated the government's resolve to settle all electricity disputes with provincial governments through dialogue.
