Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid Secretary General Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed while presenting the Shujaat Formula for ending the prevailing power crisis has asked the provinces to contribute a total of Rs 150 billion for the next three months out of their NFC Award share to meet the power shortfall. Attending the National Energy Conference on behalf of PML-Q President Senator Ch Shujat Hussain, he said the provinces should give total of Rs 50 billion out of their NFC Award every month for three months. He said a large part of this amount will go towards clearing the circular debt of Rs 250 billion payable to IPPs. He said after these payments the IPPs will be left with a sustainable circular debt of Rs 100 billion. Mushahid Hussain Syed said basically the provinces would have to forego transfers from the federal government at Rs 50 billion per month for next three months with Punjab contributing Rs 25 billion, Sindh Rs 25 billion, KP Rs 7.5 and Balochistan Rs 5 billion every month. He said in recent weeks the energy crisis had worsened leading to riots against load shedding and agitation in the streets. He said instead of a blame game and point scoring, the energy crisis should be treated as an issue above any party or even the government. since it concerns Pakistan and its people. The PML secretary general said the government in cooperation with the provinces and all stake holders should declare an Energy Emergency and establish a National Energy Task Force comprising policy makers and experts from the federal and provincial governments plus the private sector to devise a fast track strategy on how best to resolve the energy crisis. He said particularly, a strategy be evolved to cut line losses, reduce theft of electricity, introduce smart load shedding by using readily available technology as well as launch a nationwide Energy Conservation Campaign. In this regard, necessary lesson should be learned from the examples of the Philippines, China and India. Immediate steps be taken on an emergency basis for formulating a strategy that lessens dependence on thermal power, works on generating hydel power through construction of small dams and also seek assistance of neighbours for solar energy, wind energy and coal, he said. He said on issues like energy and economy, which were above party lines and which affect the future of Pakistan, all political parties declare a political cease fire on these issues till the general election and use this period of cease fire to formulate a durable, and comprehensive national policy with consensus. In conclusion, he said if a complicated constitutional amendment by consensus is passed and if a report is produced on National Security with the signatures of all political parties represented in parliament then the country could move forward. Afterwards talking to media, Syed said the conference participants have highly appreciated the Shujaat Formula for ending the electricity load shedding in the country in a very short time. He expressed the hope and confidence that the provinces would respond to the formula in a positive and generous manner in order to make their contributions towards elimination of electricity load shedding and to provide the much needed relief to the people throughout the country. He said PML-Q was the only party and Shujat Hussain was the only national leader who had presented a very feasible and practical solution to the energy crisis.
