Power Shortage Hits Economy

Byline: Ismat Sabir The country's economy is facing huge losses of $2.5 billion per annum due to power shortage. Power deficit of over 5,000MW costs 2 percent decrease in the GDP. It also costs about 400,000 jobs and decline of one billion dollar in exports. Therefore, installation of more power generation plants in public sector as well as public-private partnership is the need of the hour. Moreover, hydel and coal based power projects should be encouraged and transmission and distribution losses must be reduced to the minimum level.