Pakistan's PM announces energy policy to tackle crisis

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has launched a national energy policy to tackle the country's massive power crisis.

Measures include extending the official weekend from one to two days, early closure of street markets, and a 50% cut in power to government offices.

Pakistan's energy crisis is due to a surge in demand and a failing power distribution infrastructure.

The shortages have crippled industry and led to rioting across Pakistan.


Electricity supplies to homes and businesses across Pakistan are often cut for several hours a day because of the power shortfall.

Extending the weekend will shorten the working week and so cut electricity use by businesses.

Mr Gilani says the government will take the lead in cutting demand for energy.
"We are taking these decisions in the best national interest," he told reporters.

According to government sources, Pakistan's energy shortfall comes to around 3,668 megawatts (MW) per day.

Officials hope the new measures will save 1,500 MW a day.


Mr Gilani said that Pakistan's government would pay 116 bn rupees ($1.38bn) to the power sector to help resolve the issue of debt owed to various power producers within the industry.
Other energy-saving measures include:

• The power supply to Karachi, Pakistan's main port and industrial capital, will be reduced by 300 MW a day
• Marriage halls will no longer be able to host all-night wedding parties
• Neon signs and brightly-lit billboards are to be banned

All the measures will be reviewed at the end of July.


Mr Gilani said he would introduce government units and 13 independent power producers as part of the plan.
He said the steps were necessary and that the government now had a long-term strategy to deal with the power crisis.

The energy crisis is also seen as a threat to Pakistan's security situation.


Pakistan's leadership has been examining alternatives to its hydroelectric power-based energy producing sector.
One option they are looking at is more civilian nuclear power plants, our correspondent says.

Chile troops tackle quake looters

 The Chilean military is attempting to restore order in the country's second city, Concepcion, amid looting after Saturday's devastating earthquake.

Troops have fired tear gas at looters attempting to flee with food and other goods, and arrested dozens of people for breaking an overnight curfew.

The death toll of 708 from the 8.8-magnitude quake is expected to rise.

The United Nations has said it will rush aid deliveries to Chile after the government asked for help.
UN spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said Chile had requested field hospitals with surgery facilities, mobile bridges, communications equipment, kitchens, and disaster assessment and co-ordination teams.

In coastal towns and villages hit by giant waves after the earthquake, the scale of destruction is becoming clear.


AFP news agency quotes state television as saying more than 300 bodies were found in the fishing village of Constitucion alone.


In the port of Talcahuano, more than 20 boats were swept ashore and dumped in the streets by the waves.
Defence Minister Francisco Vidal has admitted the country's navy made a mistake by not immediately issuing a tsunami warning after the earthquake, a move that could have helped coastal residents flee to higher ground sooner.

But he added an alarm sounded by port captains had saved hundreds if not thousands of lives.

Many of Concepcion's 500,000 inhabitants are short of food and have seen their water and electricity supplies cut off.

The army was called in to help the police force deal with looters, some of whom filled shopping trolleys full of groceries while others made off with plasma TVs and other electrical appliances.

The government said an overnight curfew imposed in some of the worst-hit areas was largely observed, despite a number of strong aftershocks.

At least 55 people were reportedly arrested in Concepcion, while the AFP news agency said one person was killed as shots were fired in the city.

Meanwhile, rescuers with heat detectors are hunting for dozens of people believed to be trapped in an apartment block toppled by the quake.

The city's Mayor, Jacqueline van Rysselberghe, has warned there is the potential for severe "social tension."
She said: "We need food for the population. We are without supplies, and if we don't resolve that we are going to have serious security problems."

Regional military commander Guillermo Ramirez issued a warning to would-be looters.
"I would advise criminals not to mess with the armed forces. Our response will be severe, but within the context of the law," he said.

About two million Chileans are believed to have been affected by Saturday's earthquake, the seventh most powerful on record and the worst disaster to befall Chile in 50 years.

President Michelle Bachelet, due to hand power to President-elect Sebastian Pinera on 11 March, said the air force was to begin flying in food and vital aid to badly-hit areas, some of which have been cut off by the quake.

"We face a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort," she said.
Chile did not initially request foreign assistance, but Ms Bachelet has subsequently said some offers of aid would be accepted.

She said Chile needed field hospitals, temporary bridges, water purification plants, damage assessment experts and rescuers to relieve those already working to find survivors.

The epicentre of the quake was 115km (70 miles) north-east of Concepcion and 325km (202 miles) south-west of the capital Santiago.


About 1.5 million homes in Chile have been damaged. Most of the collapsed buildings were of older design - including many historic structures.


About 90% of the historic centre of the town of Curico was destroyed. Many roads and bridges across the affected area were damaged or destroyed.

One US risk assessor, Eqecat, has put the cost of repairing the damage at between $15bn and $30bn (£9.8bn-£19.6bn) or 10-20% of gross domestic product.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would visit Santiago on Tuesday and meet Ms Bachelet and Mr Pinera, officials said.

The European Union has pledged 3m euros ($4m; £2.7m) in emergency aid for Chile. Japan said it was providing an emergency grant of $3m, as well as sending tents, generators, water cleaners and other emergency gear, while China has pledged $1m.