Very difficult challenge for govt to control loadshedding crisis: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Slamming the PTI for not securing cheap gas during its tenure, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif Friday said that it was a “very, very difficult” challenge faced by the coalition government in terms of managing the ongoing electricity loadshedding. 

In his address during a meeting held on the prevailing loadshedding crisis at the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister said that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure bringing an end to power outages, but at the same time, he mentioned that it has refrained from buying expensive gas used for generating electricity.

Pakistan is facing an escalation of its power crisis after the nation last month failed to strike a deal for natural gas supply for July. Tenders for this month were scrapped on high prices and low participation.

State-owned Pakistan LNG Ltd scrapped a purchase tender for July shipments of liquefied natural gas after it received an offer that would’ve been the most expensive shipment ever delivered to the nation, according to traders with knowledge of the matter.

It was the third time in June that Pakistan failed to complete an LNG tender for July, and the country’s inability to purchase fuel threatened to exacerbate electricity shortages just as hotter weather boosts air conditioning and power demand.

“We have refrained from procuring expensive gas and the previous government missed the opportunity to purchase cheap gas,” the prime minister said in a scathing attack on the PTI.

PM Shehbaz said the PTI cast aspersions on the deal the PML-N government struck with Qatar in its previous tenure — in a case which saw former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Finance Minister Miftah Ismail being sent to jail.

Further, PM Shehbaz said although oil and gas prices were at a record high in the international market, the government was trying its level best to resolve the loadshedding issues.

He also criticised the PTI for not maintaining power plants. “…but we understand the problems faced by the people and we will resolve this issue.”