Pakistan wants to import electricity from India

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Power-starved Pakistan is looking to import electricity from India, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said.

Talks are on for import of 500 to 1,000 megawatt of electricity from India, Associated Press of Pakistan quoted Gilani as saying.

Speaking at a television programme, Gilani said all resources would be utilised and short, medium and long term energy projects would be initiated.

The prime minister said the Council of Common Interest (CCI) had unanimously approved building the Diamer Bhasha Dam, which would produce 4,000 MW of electricity and increase the life of the Tarbela Dam by 35 years.

In August, Gilani had constituted a high-powered committee to resolve the issue of unscheduled power outages in the country.

Pakistan's power shortfall had reached 5,000 MW. The country was generating 13,250 MW against a peak demand of over 18,000 MW.

The country has witnessed protests over the lack of electricity. In July, two people were killed and 30 injured in a pitched battle between police and locals who were upset over acute electricity shortage in a town in Punjab province.

Gilani said an accountability bill would be tabled in parliament and added that national institutions would be made more strong to check corruption.

The prime minister said he had been hearing about corruption since he joined politics and every government had faced corruption charges, but the allegations were denied, reported Associated Press of Pakistan.

The governments of Muhammad Khan Junejo, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto were removed on charges of corruption, he added.

He said it was very easy to raise the issue of corruption, but if somebody has proof of corruption, he could go to the courts and authorities concerned.

While talking about the economy, Gilani said he raised the issue of restructuring of public sector entities during his interaction with businessmen in Australia.

"I will soon announce a two year plan to change the whole economy and turn around the state owned entities," he was quoted as saying.