Govt unveils energy conservation plan
\nSays if new plan observed the country would save Rs62b
\n Islamabad
\nDefence Minister Khawaja Asif Tuesday said the federal government had approved a new energy conservation plan under which markets\/malls would close by 8:30pm, while it also banned the usage of inefficient appliances that would save the country around Rs62 billion annually.
\nAsif announced the cabinet\u2019s decision in a press conference. He was flanked by ministers Federal Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman, Federal Minister for energy Khurram Dastgir KhanKhurram Dastagir Khan, and Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb.
\nThe defence minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the concerned authorities to cut the usage of electricity by all departments of the federal government by 30%. The PM, according to Asif, also ordered the officials against unnecessary consumption of electricity in the offices.
\nKhawaja Asif told journalists that measures approved by the cabinet aim to save the cash-strapped country about Rs62 billion ($273.4 million) and help reduce the energy import bill.
\nThe minister said, in pursuance of his order, the federal cabinet meeting, in a symbolic action was also held without the use of any electricity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cabinet, on the recommendation of the power division, has allowed enforcing the energy-saving plan which will be applied to the entire country,\u201d said Asif. He added that under the plan wedding halls would be bound to close at 10pm while markets at 8:30pm.<\/p>\n
The minister said that if the guidelines regarding working hours were implemented in letter and spirit the country could save Rs62 billion.<\/p>\n
Asif also announced that the factories producing fans run on electricity will be halted.<\/p>\n
\u201cInefficient fans use around 120-130 watts of electricity. Across the globe, fans are available that use 60-80 watts,\u201d he said, adding that the import duty on \u201cinefficient\u201d fans would be increased to decrease their consumption. The government has also banned the manufacturing of 120\u2013130-watt fans from July 1, 2023, in the country, Asif said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Govt unveils energy conservation plan Says if new plan observed the country would save Rs62b Islamabad Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Tuesday said the federal government had approved a new energy conservation plan under which markets\/malls would close by 8:30pm, while it also banned the usage of inefficient appliances that would save the country around Rs62 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":305313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-305283","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n