Islamabad:
The Ministry of Energy has issued orders for the supply of uninterrupted energy throughout the country during Muharram and instructed the distribution companies (disc) to guarantee the immediate repair or replacement of defective equipment in their system.
The Minister of Energy, Awais Leghari, issued the instructions to the executive directors of all discos, saying that the sacred month of Muharram approached, when millions of people attend meetings and processions throughout the country.
“As you know, the sacred month of Muharramul Haram is approaching, during which millions of devotees/mourners throughout Pakistan will participate in Majalis and processions to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (RA),” he said.
“Since the sacred month of Muharram is falling in July and heat waves are expected, it is very imperative that all necessary measures be taken to guarantee the supply of uninterrupted electricity to avoid any inconvenience to the public,” he added.
In this sense, the minister asked the discos to take the measures urgently, including the plan for preventive maintenance and load management; form emergency response equipment; and guarantee the generator support and the backup.
“Perform exhaustive inspections of all transmission and distribution networks, particularly in areas where majalis and processions are expected. Ensure that all defective equipment is repaired or immediately replaced to avoid interruptions,” the order said.
“Implement dedicated emergency response equipment on maximum alert throughout Muharram, especially on Muharram, to address any energy interruption immediately,” he added.
The minister asked the disco officials to coordinate with the district administrations, the agencies of application of the law and the organizers of religious meetings to identify critical locations that require priority energy supply and support agreements.
The minister emphasized the need to communicate proactively with consumers, especially imambargahs and mosques, with respect to any programmed maintenance or possible load management measures to minimize the inconveniences.
He emphasized the update of the inventory to ensure that sufficient number of transformers and other materials were available in each subdivision. “Ensure waiting generators and UPS systems in confidential locations to provide support energy in case of network problems.”
In addition, the minister instructed to assign tax lists and establish dedicated control centers to guarantee the availability of technical and operational personnel to respond quickly to any energy -related problem.
“The Holiness of Muharram demands our maximum commitment to serve the public with diligence and respect. Any negligence in this regard will seriously be seen,” he said, and asked officials to submit a compliance report.
