LAHORE: Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has urged the masses to conserve energy as "a unit conserved is far better than the unit generated".

He was addressing a press conference after attending a briefing on the implementation of plans to overcome current energy crisis in the country here at WAPDA House on Sunday.

The Minister said that the power conservation is one of the three goals alongwith power generation and power generation shortfall control set by the government to overcome the current energy crisis in the country. "Power conservation is beneficial for the individual as well as the nation", he added.

He said that the country is facing a shortfall of 3500 MW electricity and consolidated efforts are being made to overcome this challenge. He said that the government has the infrastructure and no stone would be left unturned to free the people and the business community from these testing times.

He said that the government is committed to the welfare of the people and IPPs and the rental power plants are meant to alleviate the difficulties of the people in the country.

Briefing the mediamen about the need of the rental power plants, the minister said that the rental power plants would help generate 1500 to 1600 MW electricity by the end of this year adding it would resolve the power shortfall faced by the industry and trade sectors.

He admitted that the power generated through the rental power plants would be a little costlier than the power generated by the IPPs. He said he is ready to address any reservations regarding the rental power plants in the Parliament.

He dispelled the impression that the rent offered by the government to the power rental plants is more than the total price of rental plant. He said that the contracts to the rental plants have been awarded through transparent international competitive biddings. He said that the interests of the country and the people have been safeguarded by the government and the deal has been completely above board.

The minister said that he is accountable to the people of Pakistan and any criticism for betterment would be welcomed. He said that he is ready to discuss the rental power plants at any forum in order to eradicate any kind of misunderstandings. LINK