On the directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Ministry of Water and Power on Thursday ordered all electricity distribution companies to exempt the industrial sector from loadshedding until the end of next month.
The ministry has directed DISCOS to immediately implement the decision, which would be effective until the canal closure at the end of December when hydel power generation comes down to very low levels, according to a press release from the power ministry.
The decision yesterday came as Sharif, speaking at the Pakistan-Britain Energy Dialogue and Investment Conference in London, vowed to develop a competitive energy market in Pakistan and transform the role of the government from manager to regulator for the energy sector.
Pakistan faces an acute power shortage and electricity crisis. The industrial sector also faces long power cuts, especially in the winter season due to shortage of gas and spike in consumption.
