1966 megawatts power to be added to national grid by December, Senate informed

Already hit by 4500-5000 megawatts shortfall, the government has decided to add more than 1966 megawatts to the system by December this year to overcome electricity load shedding.
The Minister for Water and Power, Naveed Qamar, in a written reply informed the Senate on Friday that power project of 2009 mw has already been added to the system since June 2008 and projects of more than 1966 mw are being added through Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) in private/public sector, which will be completed by December 2011, and about 1541 mw during the next three years.
He said that work was underway on 11 mw hydel power projects in various parts of the country under long-term strategy and all of these projects are expected to be completed by 2017. He said these projects, on completion, would generate over 8000 mw electricity.
He said that besides new projects, work was also underway on feasibility to expand Tarbela dam hydel power project. The Minister told the House that India was contemplating construction of hydropower projects on western Rivers. "India has so far constructed total 30 hydroelectric projects on our western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) since the Indus Waters Treaty 1960," he added.
He said that the government was making concerted efforts to enhance hydel and thermal power generation to overcome electricity load shedding at the earliest. Qamar said that a five-member delegation is scheduled to hold meeting with Tavanir of Iran in Tehran soon.
The agenda includes enhancement of power from 39 mw to 70 mw for Makran, Balochistan, he added. He further said that power demand of Makran is up to 48 mw and currently 39 mw power is being imported from Iran. He informed the House that the federal government has provided special funds to complete 31 irrigation and water projects in Sindh province to ensure improved water supply for irrigation and drinking purpose.