US to help refurbish power plants

LAHORE: Help for Pakistan’s energy sector will be a top priority in plans for direct US investment in the country under the Kerry-Lugar Bill, Administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr Rajiv Shah, said here on Wednesday.

“The US will help refurbish three thermal and one hydel power plant that will add some 4,500MW to the national grid,” Mr Shah said while talking to this correspondent at Lahore airport before leaving for Islamabad. USAID’s Pakistan Mission Director Robert Wilson was also present.

WB, ADB differ over quantum of power tariff hike

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank differ on the quantum of the planned increase in power tariff, a senior official of the Ministry of Finance told the News.

If the ADB’s view is accepted, the government will have to increase power tariff by 20 per cent. The government will, however, have to increase power tariff by 10 per cent if the WB’s input is taken into consideration.

Power shortage will be reduced in a month: Ashraf

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf once again claimed on Sunday that the prevalent power crisis in the country will be reduced within a month as water inflow in dams will increase and a few of IPPs will start operating. 


Ashraf was talking to the media during his visit to National Power Control Centre. He blamed less rains for the low generation of electricity and the early heat wave for the increased demand.