- KP CM, PTI workers protest at PESCO office, threaten Centre they will cut off electricity supply to Punjab
- Federal minister assures resolution of power-related problems in KP through a three-phase plan
PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
Led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) barged into Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) office Wednesday to register their protest against excessive electricity load shedding in the province.
Addressing the procession, Khattak said that he had requested Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to provide Rs 3 billion for grid station and warned that if the federal government did not fulfil their demands within a week, they would halt the entire system forcibly.
“If Punjab can halt flour supply then we can also cut short electricity supply,” he added.
Khattak demanded the federal government give their province’s due share of electricity or hand over Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) set up to the provincial government. The KP CM also threatened Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to “mend its ways before they deprive them of the provided security”.
“If WAPDA doesn’t solve this issue, I will not cooperate anymore.”
“People of KP are not involved in power theft, Abid Sher Ali should keep his mouth shut and put the evaders of WAPDA in jail,” Khattak said, adding that KP produced over 35,000 MW of electricity but given only 13,000 MW while provincial demand was over 24,000 MW.
Moreover, Khattak lamented that KP sold electricity to the Centre at Rs 4 per unit while it purchased electricity from the Centre for over Rs 16 per unit.
ASIF SOOTHES KHATTAK:
In a bid to cool down the KP CM after the protest, Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif met Khattak in Peshawar and assured him of immediate resolution of power-related problems in KP, saying that the province’s power issues would be divided into three phases for swift redressal.
During the meeting it was concurred that electricity distribution system in KP had been overloaded and would be upgraded in the first phase.
It was informed that work on five proposed grid stations in DI Khan, Kohat, Chakdara, Nowshera and Mansehra would be launched on emergency basis for improving the electricity system in the province. The work on these grid stations would be completed within 12 months. Asif also announced provision of funds in this regard and assured electricity supply to the province according to its quota after upgrading.
It was stated that in the second phase, net hydel arrears consisting of Rs 680 million, arrears for Pehur High Level Canal and Rs 7 billion capped arrears of Net Hydel Profit would be given to the province. It was further stated that amount was a part of provincial budget and according to KP chief secretary, the province faced shortfall amounting to Rs 60 billion this year.
In third phase, it was decided that the federal government would initiate all the pending hydropower projects in the province to produce inexpensive electricity.
During the meeting it was also decided to resolve the KP’s issues regarding annual profit and additional arrears under the agreed formula.
After listening to Asif’s three-phase plan, Khattak expressed the hope that the federal government would invest in KP’s hydropower sector for generation of inexpensive electricity. He said that it would have far-reaching impacts on overall national progress and development.