Govt unveils energy conservation plan: Markets to close by 8:30pm, wedding halls 10pm

• Khawaja Asif shares federal govt's energy conservation plan.
• Says if new plan observed the country would save Rs62 billion.
• Says President Arif Alvi supports the federal government's initiative.

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 billion annually.

Asif announced the cabinet's 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.

The 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.

Khawaja 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.

Key features of energy conservation plan:

• Markets will be closed by 8:30pm
• Wedding halls will be shut down by 10pm
• All govt offices to install energy-efficient appliances
  
• Use of inefficient fans of 120-130 watts to be banned
• Filament bulbs will not be produced from Feb 1, 2023
• Electronic motorbikes will be introduced in the country
  
• Use of conical geysers to be made mandatory within a year
  
• Committee formed to deliberate on Work From Home policy
  
• Streetlights across the country will be turned on alternately
• Awareness campaigns to be launched on electronic, social media
  
• New building code is being devised to increase their energy efficiency
  

The minister said, in pursuance of his order, the federal cabinet meeting, in a symbolic action was also held without the use of any electricity.

"The cabinet, on the recommendation of the power division, has allowed enforcing the energy-saving plan which will be applied to the entire country," said Asif. He added that under the plan wedding halls would be bound to close at 10pm while markets at 8:30pm.

The minister said that if the guidelines regarding working hours were implemented in letter and spirit the country could save Rs62 billion.

Asif also announced that the factories producing fans run on electricity will be halted.

“Inefficient fans use around 120-130 watts of electricity. Across the globe, fans are available that use 60-80 watts,” he said, adding that the import duty on “inefficient” fans would be increased to decrease their consumption. The government has also banned the manufacturing of 120–130-watt fans from July 1, 2023, in the country, Asif said.

The defence minister said that the government was implementing a programme to reduce electricity consumption in fans. He said that all government institutions would install efficient devices to save electricity, adding that inefficient appliances had been banned.

Asif said that the government was also introducing a building code for the construction sector as the maintenance cost of cement, iron and glass is very high.

The minister also announced that e-bikes would be introduced countrywide.

"We are slowly shifting to electric bikes. People will be facilitated by financing via dealers to shift to these facilities," said the minister. He added that Pakistan was using oil worth $3 billion annually.

Asif also announced that the cabinet had directed the formation of a committee to submit a report on the implementation of the Work from Home (WFH) system in offices.

The minister said that President Arif Alvi has supported the federal government's plan. He said that the government had spoken to all the provinces and stakeholders and recorded everyone's stand on it as this will be a permanent feature, which would be beneficial for the country.

Asif said this plan would benefit everyone in the long term, adding, the cabinet would monitor and review the plan that would be imposed immediately.

The country's foreign exchange reserves' levels barely cover a month's worth of imports, most of which is accounted for by energy purchases from abroad, with funds expected under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme having been delayed.

The federal government proposed its energy conservation plan on December 20 2022, according to which all the markets and restaurants were to be shut down at 8pm; however, that time had changed now.

In the same press conference in December, Khawaja Asif announced that the federal government would finalise the plan after consultations with the rest of the provinces.

In pursuance of that announcement, a federal government delegation visited provinces to speak on the matter. The committee also met President Arif Alvi, last week.

The president called for launching a consensus-based nationwide, comprehensive, and all-encompassing electricity, gas, and water conservation strategies to conserve national resources and divert them for the welfare and prosperity of the people.

Punjab refuses to follow, KP undecided

In response, Special Assistant to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister (SACM) Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif said the policy was of the federal government, and the province was not consulted prior to the announcement.

"There was also no consultation over the closure of markets and shops," the barrister said in a statement.

He further stated that the KP government is already taking steps to preserve electricity — using LED bulbs and working on solarisation.

The government is taking steps to prevent environmental pollution, he claimed, adding the decision has not yet been made regarding the implementing the centre's power-preservation policy.

In his statement, Punjab Senior Minister Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the provincial government rejects the decision and would not accept any orders of the "imported government".