ISLAMABAD, Jan 3 (EW): Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Tuesday that the federal cabinet has approved the National Energy Conservation Plan — a policy aimed at saving energy.
Briefing the media after a meeting of the federal cabinet, he said that the timings of wedding halls and markets across the country will be limited to 10pm and 8:30pm respectively.
“This policy will save us Rs60 billion.”
Asif said that the production of fans run on electricity will be halted by July. “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 will be increased.
Moreover, he revealed that after Feb 1, 2023, incandescent bulbs would not be manufactured and additional taxes will be imposed on the ones that were imported. “We can say Rs22 billion by doing this.”
The minister went on to say that all government buildings and officers will consume efficient energy under the plan. “Court buildings and housing societies are also included in this.”
“Similarly, we have also decided to make the use of conical geysers mandatory within a year. These geysers use less gas and this way we will be able to save Rs92 billion.”
Asif also said that the government had decided to use street lights alternatively which he claimed would save Rs4 billion.
Furthermore, he said that the government would be introducing electric motorcycles this year. “Pakistan is using oil worth $3 billion annually. These e-bikes will be slightly expensive but we will provide financing and the costs will hopefully be covered within a year.”
Asif added that the federal cabinet had directed the formation of a committee to look into the work-from-home policy and the process will be completed within 8 to 10 days.
He said that the government had discussed the conservation plan with traders from across the countries and “there is a consensus on it”.
“We even went to the president and briefed him on the plan. He supported it and gave us more constructive suggestions,” the minister told journalists, adding that “we requested him to play his role for the cause in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab”.
The plan, Asif added, would be enforced immediately.
