We can save Rs 50 Billion by enduring two hours of power cuts: Energy Minister defends load shedding

Power Minister Awais Leghari has presented the unique logic of load shedding, saying that if power cuts are tolerated for two hours a day, PKR 50 billion can be saved.

Speaking at an event in Islamabad, the minister said, “There is no doubt that we are providing the most expensive electricity in the region, but we are providing cheap electricity to poor consumers who bear the burden of expensive electricity. Due to the industry shutting down, the government has borne the burden of providing electricity to the industry at a low cost.”

He explained the unique logic for saving money, “50 billion rupees can be saved if load shedding is tolerated for two hours. One important measure to save electricity is to switch fans to low wattage, while the government has installed new plants to end load shedding.”

The energy minister said, “The burden on the consumer was 10 rupees per unit, which increased due to the increase in the dollar price. Currently, the average price of electricity is 44 rupees per unit. We had started working on Independent Power Producers (IPPs) quietly. Still, the ministry leaked that something related to IPPs would happen, and we got help, maybe they did what the ministry was not doing openly. We will give good news regarding IPPs, and Pakistan will move forward.”

He also hinted at positive developments in the energy sector that could help reduce costs and improve electricity supply.