Generation & distribution: Leghari for displaying electricity data on PITC's website

Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmed Leghari has directed the Power Division to immediately take steps for displaying of electricity generation and distribution data on the website of Power Information Technology Company www.pitc.com.pk aimed at ensuring maximum transparency and provision of accurate information to the public at large. The Federal Minister passed the direction in a meeting with a delegation of the Government of KP headed by the Provincial Minister for Energy here on Thursday.
The issue of non availability of real time data of gas and electricity was recently raised by Chief Minister KP at a meeting of Council of Common Interests (CCI). Federal Minister, while referring to the government of KP long standing demand to provide information and data relating to the distribution of electricity among the distribution companies, said it will be more transparent to open the information to the general public.
Federal Minister also asked the Energy Minister for help against power theft in different areas of KP. He informed the delegation that Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) had been directed to incentivize its staff deputed at high loss feeders in order to control the losses and ensure uninterrupted power supply to maximum areas. He said the government was also considering incentivising the law enforcement agencies in their endeavors against the power theft.
Federal Minister further informed the delegation that with consistent efforts by the present government, the power generation has reached a level that "we can meet demand of electricity in the country". He said there was no shortage of electricity right now.
Atif Khan Energy Minister KP agreed with the Federal Minister for Power Division that areas where power theft is rampant and losses are high can not be compared with areas where losses are low and so the load shedding cannot be equal. He said the provincial government is all ready to extend assistance to PESCO in its operation against the power theft and recovery cases.
While chairing a review meeting with Discos' Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) Awais Leghari directed the Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOS) to clear all backlog of pending new electricity connections within one month so that a new procedure for new connections can be adopted.
Federal Minister took strong exception to around 400,000 pending new connection applications in all DISCOs and directed that immediate measures be taken to provide energy meters to consumers. He said that special meetings of the BODs may be called by the DISCOs in order to expedite procurement of material essential for new connections as per the existing procedure. Federal Minister also directed that in high loss areas load shedding be carried as per fixed schedule proportionate to the percentage of losses. He directed establishing a hotline to monitor the schedule of load shedding for high loss areas. He will himself monitor the schedule of load shedding in the high loss areas while the PITC will generate reports in this regard.
Federal Minister said that with great effort the government has been able to bridge the demand supply gap and "we have now enough power generation available to meet the demand". He said all efforts will be made to curtail the losses so that maximum number of consumers can be provided uninterrupted electricity supply.