ISLAMABAD (APP) - Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday said that the present government has prioritised to maximize generation capacity of power to avert load shedding in the country. The minister made these observations while chairing a high level meeting with Power Generation Companies (GINCOs), Power distribution Companies (DISCOs) and Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) to review the current power supply and demand situation in the country here on Wednesday. He said all out efforts are underway to adopt rational policies in this regard to mobilize all available resources to cope with the prevailing situation and to minimize the load shedding in the country. He directed all CEOs of GENCOs to assure full availability of generating plants consequent of which there would be no forced load shedding in the country. The Minister directed that in case of emergencies, least possible forced closures may take place. A comparison of available generation capacity with compatible figures of last year was also carried out in the meeting which showed extra generation this year and also lesser load shedding. It was noted that the hydrology this year was much better and likely to arrange for more hydro-generation. Todays level of both Tarbela and Mangla Dams was 30 feet and 50 feet respectively more than last year, which augur well for the country, the meeting was informed. The meeting was also apprised that the power system will be under stress and pressure during the months of July and August, but the supply position would be better than last year. In order to firm up the supply position, all new power plants totalling 3,240 MW programme to come on bar within 2009 were reviewed and found satisfactory. The meeting concluded that these additions and other efficiency enhancement measures would lead to the end of load shedding by December 2009. Earlier the minister also met with the delegation of APTMA, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Power Looms Association and Textile Joint Working Group, Punjab. Minister for Textile, Rana Farooq Saeed and Punjab Senior Minister, Raja Riaz Ahmad were also present on this occasion. The representative of the delegation apprised the minister about the problem faced by them due to load shedding which badly affected the industrial production and caused loss to the export of the country.