Previous govts responsible for power crisis, says Gilani

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday said the country was facing the problem of load shedding owing to the wrong policies of the previous governments.
To questions of the people in his monthly TV programme, Prime Minister Online, broadcast on Pakistan Television and Channel Five, the prime minister said energy crisis was not a new issue. He said an important energy conference was being held on April 9, which would be attended by representatives from all the provinces to discuss and find solution to the energy crisis.
Referring to the independent power producers (IPPs) initiated by Benazir Bhutto in 1994 during her first term, Gilani said she was criticised for this initiative. He said said many corruption cases had been made against her, causing investors in the IPP project to run away from Pakistan. “This situation created the energy crisis in the country.”
“We have added 3400MW to the national system with the help of short term projects and added that more electricity will be added by end of the year when many mid term projects will be completed.”
He said many other projects like Bhasha Dam, raising of Mangla Dam and other hydel projects are under construction to improve electricity and reduce load shedding. Gilani said, “I am from Punjab, and cannot discriminate against other provinces on the issue of load shedding.”
The prime minister said the provinces had been permitted to generate electricity, therefore, all provinces were equally responsible for energy crisis. He said the government was also making efforts to get energy from Iran, adding that he had informally talked to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about getting 500 to 1000MW of electricity from India.
He said the committee formed by him on energy would meet daily to look into the current condition of load shedding.
“Gas shortage is also a problem directly affecting the shortage of electricity, as many power projects use gas and even provision of gas for fertilizers also create shortage for power projects,” he added.
He said the government is also making efforts to import LNG from different countries to meet the demand in energy sector.
To a question about energy losses, the prime minister said PEPCO and the Ministry of Water and Power had been restructured purely on professional basis and all areas had been made independent and it would improve the situation and reduce corruption and line losses. The prime minister said he had ordered that there would be no new tax in the next budget and relief would be given to the people. About change in federal cabinet, the prime minister said it was a routine matter and it should not be a concern for any one. “All the members of cabinet are elected representatives and they are politicians.”
He said politicians were elected and deserved to be included in the federal cabinet as they had experience.
About allegations of corruption against his sons, Gilani said these were wrong allegations, adding that even the Supreme Court had stated that his son was not involved in the Haj corruption case, but still the press was projecting the issue.
The prime minister said elections for local governments were not held, because of which there were no local elected officials to control prices.
“Price control is a provincial subject and should be dealt at the local and provincial levels,” he said, adding the provincial governments should take notice of the problem of adulteration in edible items.
To a question about the situation in Karachi, he said, “Karachi is a mini Pakistan with a large population and different dynamics,” adding that it was the responsibility of the state to protect life and property of citizens but law and order in Karachi was a complex issue.
“The provincial government should fulfill its obligation and perform the primary duty to maintain law and order,” he said.
Gilani said despite the fact that all three main parties in Sindh were in the coalition government it was not a guarantee that law and order was under control all the time.