ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday chaired a high-level meetingwherein he was apprised that the government had set a target to get rid ofthe power circular debt by December 2020.
The meeting was attended by Power Minister Omar Ayub Khan, Finance AdvisorAbdul Hafeez Sheikh, PM’s Special Assistant on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, PM’sSpecial Assistant on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, PM’s SpokespersonNadeem Afzal Chan, Power Secretary Irfan Ali and other senior officers.
The prime minister was briefed in detail about the reforms in the powersector, removal of impediments in the power transmission, measures to curbpower theft and issue of the circular debt.
The meeting was told that during 2017-18, the circular debt had increasedby Rs450 billion which would be brought down to Rs293 billion during thecurrent year and to Rs96 billion by fiscal year 2019-20. “The governmentwould completely overcome the issue of circular debt by the end of nextyear.”
The prime minister was told that a 25-year plan to cope with the demand andsupply of power has been formulated. Moreover, a fresh policy for powerproduction through alternate energy resources has been formulated.
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Under the policy, 20pc of total electricity would be produced fromalternate resources by 2025 which would be enhanced to 30pc by 2030.
The meeting was told that the power ministry’s drive to curb power theftand recovery of dues has brought in positive outcomes. Within four months,the additional power dues worth Rs48 billion had been recovered, whichwould touch Rs80 billion mark by the end of the year and Rs190 billion byJune 2020.
