The Ministry of Water and Power has written a letter to the Balochistan government seeking more protection for the field staff of the Quetta Electric Supply Company through deployment law enforcement personnel. An official source said the letter was written after a complaint from QESCO that its field staff was reluctant to perform field duties, as last month miscreants attacked its field staff which resulted in the death of two officials, while another two were abducted. The ministry has sought more protection for QESCO staff by deploying more personnel of the Frontier Constabulary and police for performing of the field work. QESCO is dealing with power supply system in the entire province except Lasbela district. The company is the smallest in terms of customers, but largest in terms of operations as it covers the country’s 43 percent area. Being far away from the national electricity transmission network, QESCO is facing a serious deficit in electricity supply. To offset the huge power deficit in the province, the government is working on a 220KV Dadu-Khuzdar and Dera Ghazi Khan-Loralai project. The commissioning of these transmission lines would enhance power availability by 730MW, which will play a vital role in reducing load shedding duration, besides improving voltage profile. To mitigate load shedding and low voltage problems in Jafferabad, Naseerabad and Jhal Magsi districts, the execution of 220KV and 132KV grid station at Dera Murad Jamali is under progress with the assistance of the federal government. Load shedding issues in Mekran are being tackled by importing 70MW from Iran. Pakistan plans to import 100MW from Iran for the coastal city of Gwadar.