Mohammad Younus Dagha visits Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Multan, January 19, 2017 (PPI-OT):The Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Power, Mohammad Younus Dagha visited the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) for an interactive session with the members. He was welcomed by the MCCI President, Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi. Exchanging views with office bearers of Multan Chamber, Mohammad Younus Dagha said that there was zero load shedding for big industrial units and there would be no load shedding for agricultural, commercial and domestic consumers by the end of current year and 80 to 90 percent power load shedding would be ended by the end of current calendar year and 2018 would be free of load shedding year.

He said “We would meet our commitment of cheaper electricity next year. We would ensure uninterrupted power supply to industry through double circuit system and pre-paid industrial connection would be installed. To a question the secretary ruled out the possibility of recommissioning of Natural Gas Power Station Piran Ghaib (Multan) and said that it was not possible due to non-availability of natural gas. He said that all obsolete power plants would be shut with the commissioning of new power plant.

He claimed that power generation has increased by 28 percent during last two years Dagha said that we have supplied 24 billion units electricity to the consumers during 2016 which stood at 12 billion units. He said that recovery of outstanding dues further improved and reached to 96 percent while meter reading also improved to 96 %which would be increased to 100 percent.

With the completion of Sahiwal coal-fired power project, Haveli Bahadur Shah, Balloki, Port Qasim, Chashma Nuclear power plant IV, Neelum Jhelum and Tarbela expansion projects, there would be surplus electricity in the country. He was optimistic that Thar coal power project would generate 4000 MW electricity. He said that President of Multan Chamber of Commerce would be ex-officio member of MEPCO board management.

President of MCCI Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi said that since textile industry was a backbone of country’s economy. Government should introduce special tariff for Textile sector, top priority be given to the private power plant in supply of gas otherwise these plants would be shut. He further said that three-shifts industry and independent feeders be exempted power load shedding. Power supply to SME sector and agriculture sector once a day continuously be ensured, there should be no restriction on the repair of transformers of factories and mills from private workshops, similarly this facility must be extended to agriculture sector, pre-paid meters be introduced for domestic as well as industrial consumers.

Jalaluddin Roomi said that Government should take notice installation of substandard TOD meters on industries and sending average bills. Foolproof measures be taken to check power theft and a help desk be established in Multan chamber. Joint Secretary Transmission MoWP Zafar Abbas, General Manager Commercial and Revenue operation Muhammad Saleem, Pakistan Information Technology Company’s CEO Hassan Tauqueer Bukhari, Chairman of APBUMA Khawaja Muhammad Younas, Renowned Industrialist Khawaja Muhammad Iqbal, M. Anees Khawaja, Mirza Ali Ahmed, Khawaja Muhammad Farooq and Aurangzeb Alamgir were present there.

For more information, contact:
Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)
Sharah-e-Evan-e-Tijarat-o-Sanat, Multan
Tel: +92-61-451 7087, 454 3530
Fax: +92-61-457 0463
Email: mccimultan@gmail.com, mcci@yahoo.com, mcci@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.mcci.org.pk