Cabinet constitutes committee to review power crisis

Federal Cabinet took serious notice of unscheduled load shedding and constituted a committee to suggest measures for immediate improvement of power supply situation in the country which has caused inconvenience to the citizens. Minister for Information and Broadcasting while briefing the media about cabinet meeting, said because of a sudden fault at Mangla power station, WAPDA was facing shortfall of 1100 MW and this fault would be rectified within a few days. However, he said water intake at dams is quite satisfactory as additional 120 MW of electricity was being produced from Tarbela Dam. Qamar Zaman Kaira said Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who chaired the meeting, stressed that public should be informed about the exact power situation in all parts of the country and directed the Ministry of Water and Power to do away with unannounced load shedding. Kaira said present democratic government was answerable to the masses and realizes their problems but it had to meet some commitments to run its affairs in an effective manner. Qamar Zaman Kaira said the Prime Minister while taking serious notice of political influence being used by a number of government servants by approaching Members of National and Provincial Assemblies as well as other non official persons to intervene on their behalf in different matters concerning them especially in service matters, directed the government servants that they are not allowed to approach members of the parliament in any matter as per Rule 19 of the Conduct Rules, 1964. He further directed that henceforth all those officers violating this rule will be dealt with strictly and action will be taken against them under Removal from Service Ordinance and the Conduct Rules, 1964. The Prime Minister, he said asked the Cabinet members to ensure strict implementation of the directive. The government is in the process of formulating a system of rewards for outstanding civil servants.