KARACHI: PML-N leader and former finance minister Miftah Ismail has strongly criticized Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)-led government, holding it responsible for a looming energy crisis in the country.
Addressing a press conference in Karachi today (Sunday), Miftah Ismail lashed out at the government for delays in the dry docking of liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals — “one of the reasons for the emerging shortage of gas and electricity”.
Explaining that dry docking was necessary for meeting international safety standards, Ismail alleged that Energy Minister Hammad Azhar had wrongfully blamed the operators, referring to latter’s press conference.
“Engro had asked the government to initiate the dry docking a year ago, but they have been delaying it,” he claimed, adding, “The government is now blaming Engro and Sui Souther Gas Company (SSGC). This is a lie.”
The PML-N leader further said that since the government had been delaying the matters, it now had to carry out the maintenance of multiple gas fields all at once.
He also criticized the government for delaying the purchase of furnace oil and then buying it in haste at an exorbitant price. “The government had opted to use furnace oil and diesel, which were expensive fuels, to produce electricity in November and December last year, and subsequently Nepra had to increase the electricity tariff,” he added.
“There is no reason for using furnace oil for electricity production but that this government is inefficient and dishonest,” he remarked, pointing out that opting for expensive fuels was also in violation of the Nepra’s merit order.
Ismail said that power plants set up by the PML-N government in the past years, such as the Sahiwal coal-fired power plant, were producing the cheapest electricity in the country.
Ismail’s presser came a day after Energy Minister Hammad Azhar acknowledged that the country could face a power shortage from June 29 to July 6, as the regassified liquified natural gas (RLNG) terminal would be non-functional during that period.
The minister had blamed the operators of both the LNG terminals in Pakistan — Engro Elengy and Pakistan Gasport — for the looming crisis, saying that they should have given the timeline for dry docking at least one year in advance.
