Opposition in the National Assembly has strongly urged to contain the rampant electricity theft, by getting rid of corrupt WAPDA officials, who had been transformed into billionaires.
Taking part in the debate on Friday, PML-N member Gen. (Retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch was chagrined over the fact that no steps had been taken to contain illegal theft of electricity, whose production touched 16000-17000 MWs.
Berating for accomplishing tasks on temporary basis, he also expressed strong feelings over the fact that Balochistan should be treated with utmost sensitivity, as despite PM’s allocation of Rs.74 billions, only few crores had been actually been spent so far.
PML-N’s Shakeel Awan was chagrined over government’s total indifference to electricity crisis, and accused rulers of increasing masses’ woes.
PPP’s Taj Haider termed WAPDA as a giant white elephant, holding WAPDA officials as responsible for the degradation of the electricity system.
He expressed concern that no action has been taken against WAPDA officials appointed in regions where electricity theft was occurring, and urged on provincial governments to take due action against this morbidity.
Meanwhile, clarifying the point-of-order of Hameedullah Jan Afridi, the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar informed the House that FATA never practised prudence and honesty in electricity billings, and was thus illegal.
The minister urged that FATA representatives should sort out the matter in consensus with government.
The clarification was acknowledged by Hameed-ullah Jan Afridi, who also consented to evolve a suitable modus operandi for the problem.
PPP’s Yasmeen Rehman said that ministry of water and power had contained the electricity crisis on emergency footings, and said that had the thermal projects of Benazir Bhutto been carried out, there could have been lesser electricity crisis.
