[pavlik]

LALAMUSA - Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira on Sunday said the government was buying electricity at Rs 25 per unit from power producers but was selling it to the public at Rs 9 per unit.
Addressing people after opening a shopping mall, Kaira said the government was aware of problems of the people after the rising shortfall of electricity.
“We know that load shedding has made the lives of people difficult. Unemployment is on the rise and there is shortage of drinking water but unfortunately water level has receded in dams and electricity is not being generated as required.”
He said in the situation demonstrations and protests by people were legitimate. He dispelled rumours that China was ready to provide electricity to Pakistan at Rs 500 for a house and said it would require at least five years to set up poles between the two countries.
Kaira said all resources were being utilised to end load shedding, adding that the PPP-led government had allocated Rs 422 billion in the 2012-13 budget to provide subsidy on electricity while in the previous fiscal year this amount was Rs 50 billion.
The information minister said work on several energy projects including Bhasha Dam, Thar Coal, Neelam, Kohala and solar energy was in progress and the duration of load shedding would be reduced soon.
He said the country was also facing the consequences of blocking NATO supplies. “If we clash with the superpower, the nation will have to face its fallout,” he added.