News Analysis |
Federal Minister for Power Division Awais Leghari on Wednesday said that a mobile application is in the papers to be developed to track load shedding across the country. He said, “There would be no load-shedding at 5,297 feeders out of a total 8,600. Earlier, the number of feeders, where zero load-shedding was being observed, was only 326.”
The app in question is presumably being developed to monitor these 5,297 feeders. He had said that the overall electricity generation in the country had gone up to 16,477 megawatt, which was about 2700 megawatt more than the demand. He had announced that a maximum number of feeders across the country would be turned to zero load shedding from December 4.
He praised his party’s efforts towards improving the electricity shortfall.
Every official of Lahore Police will be bound to provide information of his beat through this software and he will pass on the information related to criminal and suspected activities in his area on a monthly basis.
“Pakistan is presently producing surplus electricity, thanks to the efforts of PML-N,” Leghari said while addressing a joint press conference today. “Only those suppliers that are distributing the utility at low prices will be included in the system. Companies can now compete in the open market on tariffs of hydel production,” he said.
Earlier this month, Leghari had announced that the PML-N government had fulfilled its promise of producing surplus electricity in the country.
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Leghari had stated that the country was producing only 9,279 megawatt electricity against the demand of 11,800 megawatt when the PML-N came into power in 2013, an average shortfall of 2500 megawatt and almost eight to ten hours load-shedding. Load shedding is now only taking place based on loss and is not varying based on provinces, villages or urban areas.
Leghari said that his ministry was focusing to enhance the performance of all the DISCOS and expressed the hope that there would be a revolutionary change in power distribution during the next couple of months. He had also said that legislation was being made to overcome the issues of over-billing.
The government has previously introduced mobile applications for public facilitation as well. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had announced the commencement of mobile apps and online check-in facility for its flight passengers.
According to the PR department, The airlines’ passengers will now be able to book their tickets online, give feedback and also check-in through the PIA website or mobile apps prior to arrival at the airport.
“Pakistan is presently producing surplus electricity, thanks to the efforts of PML-N,” Leghari said while addressing a joint press conference today. “
These added facilities and features are part of the Digital Transformation Programme at PIA with the aim to facilitate its passengers by introducing online and self-service capabilities. On one hand, the mobile app will facilitate PIA customers and on the other hand, it will help the national flag carrier to increase its direct sales.
Online check-in facility is available at the PIA website and its mobile apps, however, initially available for domestic flights between Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and will soon be implemented on all other domestic and international flights.
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Passengers will be able to perform web check-in 24 hours prior to the scheduled departure and up to three hours before the flight departure time. However, passengers with web check-in would be required to report at the check-in counter for baggage drop off at least 45 minutes prior to the flight departure time due to stringent security checks at the airport.
Pakistan Railways re-introduced an e-ticketing system, which was initiated in February and launched in August 2016. UBL Omni, an online payment facility partnered with Pakistan railways and it has achieved a milestone of Rs. 1 billion in collections for Pakistan Railways under the country’s first ever e-ticketing facility. UBL Omni initiated this project of providing e-ticketing facilities to Pakistan Railways’ customers for three trains in August 2016.
The airlines’ passengers will now be able to book their tickets online, give feedback and also check-in through the PIA website or mobile apps prior to arrival at the airport.
Today this e-ticketing service is available for online reservation and payments for 49 trains across Pakistan. Customers from across the country can pay against their reserved tickets through digital payment modes such as online payment through any debit/credit card, UBL Omni Wallets and UBL Omni Dukaans.
Lahore police introduced an application for liaison and community policing in August 2017. Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Captain (Retd) Amin Wains inaugurated the 111 Application and said the basic motive of the app was to improve the community policing and to strengthen the intelligence system at the community level. He further added that 35,000 officials of Lahore police along with all the local bodies’ representatives have been made a part of this application.
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The person who will pass on the information would not be disclosed keeping in view the dangers to his life. Every official of Lahore Police will be bound to provide information of his beat through this software and he will pass on the information related to criminal and suspected activities in his area on a monthly basis.