Karachi, February 20, 2022 (PPI-OT):In order to reduce skyrocketing tariff of electricity in the country the government should focus on power generation from the nuclear source, which is the cheapest source, said Pasban Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman and Pakistan Quami Ittehad (PQI) vice chairman Altaf Shakoor here Sunday.
He said the cost of electricity generation from nuclear source is about Rs.1 per unit, while the cost from power generation from HSD is about Rs25 per unit and from RLNG Rs 17 per unit. He said all countries in the world are focusing on nuclear source of electricity generation because it is cost effective but in Pakistan the government has turned its blind eye to this sector to save the vested interests of oil import mafia.
Resultantly, they are the hapless masses of Pakistan who are at the receiving end due to very high rates of electricity and resultant inflation. He regretted that currently, Pakistan is producing 65 per cent of electricity from fossil fuels, 27 per cent from hydropower, five per cent from nuclear power, and just four per cent from renewable sources. He said the blind dependence on power generation from fossil fuels has affected negatively on the basket price of electricity. He said to reduce power tariff it is a must to generate more power from nuclear and hydropower sources and then from the coal source, using local coal that is now plentifully available in Thar.
Mr Shakoor said the government should set up more nuclear power stations in the country and talks should be held with the friendly countries including China for technology transfer in the field of nuclear power plants. He said Pakistani scientists and engineers should be sent abroad for getting advanced training in this field. He said Pakistani universities should open new departments in the field of nuclear power generation for a better research and innovation. He said we cannot survive economically without embracing modern technologies.
Altaf Shakoor said we are also far behind in the sector of hydropower generation despite having some of the best river sources in the world. He said crucial matter of building new dams and water reservoirs is neglected in our country behind the veil of political slogans. He said every government including the present one seems shying away from building new dams. He said there are plenty of subjects and topics for their political games and at least the vital issue of dams should be spared from their politicking. He said new dams should be built at all costs and every federating unit should be given its due share of water without any injustice as well.
The PDP chairman said costly electricity has created a grave threat for our industry and it is not possible to run our factories and workplaces on high power tariffs anymore. He said when the electricity tarrif is hiked it opens the floodgates of inflation and the rates of everything go hiked, automatically. He said if the government is really sincere to the people of Pakistan it must reduce rates of power and gas immediately. Shakoor said power are now fed up with the hollow slogans and they want to see solid actions.
Shakoor expressed serious concerns that following the highest-ever increase in petroleum prices effective February 16, the government has prepared a plan to raise electricity prices by Rs 6.10 per unit for consumers of power Distribution Companies (Discos) for January 2022 under the monthly Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) mechanism. He said if this increase is allowed it would prove to be the last straw on the back of the camel. He said our country could not afford this much hike in electricity rates and it would foment strong protests not only from the industry and trade but also from the poor Pakistani masses.
For more information, contact:
Press Secretary,
Pasban Democratic Party (PDP)
Pasban Central Secretariat
Office # 9, Five Star Center,
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Tel: +92-21-34024480-81
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Email: pasban.ppick@gmail.com
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