These decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the Minister for Water and Power, Liaquat Ali Jatoi and attended by the Minister of State for Water and Power, Engineer Amir Muqam, Member (Power) Wapda, Secretary Water and Power, Provincial Irrigation Secretaries, Chairman National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), Chairman Irsa, Managing Director KESC and senior officials of Wapda.
However, Wapda chairman, although present in Islamabad, was absent for reasons unknown.
After the meeting, Minister for Water and Power while talking to the journalists said that despite shortage of water in the reservoirs due to less rains and non availability of gas the government has decided to withdraw loadshedding plan.
"Sindh as a goodwill gesture has allowed the federal government to use 1500 cusecs of its water share from Tarbela dam to generate power and store the water in Chashma barrage to release in February for irrigation," Jatoi added.
Wapda officials were not painting the real picture but when the Minister snubbed them and asked for factual shortfall, they calculated it at 276 MW, said an official requesting not to be named.
When the Power minister was informed that the shortfall was calculated at 276 MW, he sought the opinion of Irsa chief to overcome the crisis. The later suggested if 1500 cusecs of water be released from Tarbela for power generation loadshedding could be avoided.
"We will get 475 MW electricity which will not only meet Wapda requirement, but surplus power will also be available in the system," the Minister said in reply to a question.
Jatoi further said that three thermal power stations in Shahdara, Quetta and Multan have been shut down due to non-availability of gas, and added that he was approaching the Minister for Petroleum for the restoration of gas supply immediately.
Replying to another question, the Minister said that the loadshedding plan submitted by Wapda to the federal government stands withdrawn and all the Discos have been directed not to implement the loadshedding plan.
Liaquat Jatoi took serious note of issuance of loadshedding orders without his prior approval, saying he would conduct inquiry to take action against those responsible.
When the minister asked the Wapda officials present in the meeting about issuance of aforesaid orders none of the official including Member (Power) and Chairman NTDC accepted the responsibility.
An official told this scribe that the orders of loadshedding were issued by Chief Engineer Zaker on behalf of General Manager Operations (Wapda). According to a press release, the meeting also decided to release 400 cusecs water to Balochistan from Sindh to provide due share to the former for the Rabi season.