Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Parvez Ashraf has said that 4.5 billion dollars are being invested in power generation sector to add 4000 megawatt electricity to the system and overcome power crisis by the end of the current calendar year.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology stressed the need for Alternative Energy Sources to overcome the energy crises. The Committee recommended that the Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) and Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technology (PCRET) be merged, as mandate of both the organisations were the same.

The government wants to add 800MW of electricity to national grid within December next, which is impossible due to gas supply shortage, informed sources in Power Division said.

Power Development Board (PDB) source said that the Petrobangla must supply 175mmcfd of additional gas to produce 800MW of extra electricity from newly installed Independent Power Plants (IPP) within December next.

The government is likely to take initiative to make the installation of solar power system easier and cost effective in urban areas so people could cope with the mounting power crisis.

Sources said the government is eager to simplify solar power equipment import and offer special bank loan for its import and installation.

Mumbai: The distribution wing of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB), now Mahavitaran (MV), proposes to increase the rate of electricity supplied to consumers across the board within the next few weeks.

Bangladesh, where natural gas reserves are falling while demand for power is rising fast, will not allow new power plants that cannot use both gas and coal, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said on Sunday.

Remote villages of Deh Tiko Baran in Jamshoro district will be provided electricity generated through solar technology at a cost of Rs10 million.

Energy is considered as an engine for the socio-economic development, and sustained efforts have been launched to overcome the energy crisis on permanent basis, said Tahir Basharat Cheema, Managing Director, Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco).

Industrial units and Power looms have been suffering from losses because of power shutdowns from 8 a m to 3p m for two days. It is learnt that power supply to domestic consumers and factories remain suspended for six hours a day in Industrial Estate, Manzoorabad, Chungi No 14 Mumtazabad.

France and Pakistan have agreed to cooperate in the nuclear field, officials said Friday, with Islamabad claiming an important breakthrough in its bid to be seen as a responsible nuclear power. Following talks between France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, the French leader's office said he had offered to help Pakistan improve its "nuclear safety" capability.