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Islamabad, Oct 13 (IANS) Pakistan will have a five-day working week to conserve energy, the cabinet has decided. The federal cabinet Wednesday approved, in principle, a five-day working week to conserve energy and directed that the power connection of a consumer who does not pay the bill for over 45 days should be cut. The cabinet met here under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, reported Associated Press of Pakistan. Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Asim Hussain said the government is planning to take multiple steps, including improving the efficiency of power generation companies by involving the private sector, billing and distribution of the power sector in the country. Finance Minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said the demand for electricity is increasing while its generation and supply has failed to keep pace, creating a gap in the high demand and low supply situation in the country. He added that there is currently a supply-demand gap of 4,500 MW leading to power outages in the country. The minister said the government wanted to bridge this huge gap by short, medium and long term initiatives to get rid of the power shortage and save the country's economic development from financial losses. He added that the present government, during the past four years, had already paid Rs.1,000 billion on account of payments in subsidising the power sector.
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