Naimat Khan
KARACH: Prime Minister’s Monday visit of Karachi brought to sigh of relief in the life of Karachiites, who were facing long load shedding amid a row between two utility companies.
A deadlock between Sui Sothern Gas Company Limited and K-Electric over the long outstanding dues had face people of Karachi with load shedding of more than 12 hours. The issue remained unresolved amid several meetings and requests and warnings from the provincial government until PM announced that supply will be immediately restored to the power supplying company – K-Electric.
Addressing a news conference after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy here at the Governor House on Monday, the Prime Minister said a committee headed by his Adviser on Finance Miftah Ismael, has been constituted to look after the issue of outstanding dues between the SSGPL and the KE and for an early resolution.
He hoped that the issue of shortage of water due to the electricity crisis would also be over as the Sui Southern has assured to fully meet the requirements of the K-Electric.
To a question about the monopoly of the KE, the Prime Minister said the government has no plans to take over or to setup any other similar body for power generation and distribution in Karachi.
He said the KE was adhering to the Nepra tariff and could not charge any additional amount. Responding to questions about the ongoing load-shedding in the country, the Prime
Minister said the power generation was still higher than the demand; however in areas which were witnessing up to 60 per cent theft, had to bear power outages. To a question that why those who pay their bills regularly suffer?, the Prime Minister termed it “unfortunate” however said there was no chance of providing electricity in areas that show heavy losses.
To another question, he said the federal government was playing its part in the development of Sindh province, particularly Karachi and mentioned the Rs 30 billion allocation, which has already been made.
About the Green Line, he said the federal government has provided funds for its infrastructure and the Sindh Government was to provide the buses, however if they cannot, the federal government may provide these as well.
Keeping in view the serious power crisis in the port city, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday chaired a meeting here at the Governor House. The meeting was attended by Governor Sindh, Chief Ministers of Sindh and Punjab, Federal Minister for Power, Minister of State for Power, Adviser to PM on Finance Miftah Ismail and senior officials.
The meeting reviewed the current power generation situation in the country.
Earlier, Keeping in view the serious power crisis in the port city, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy here at the Governor House.
The meeting was attended by Governor Sindh, Chief Ministers of Sindh and Punjab, Federal
Minister for Power, Minister of State for Power, Adviser to PM on Finance Miftah Ismail and senior officials. The meeting reviewed the current power generation situation in the country.
On Friday Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has written third letter to Prime Minister Shahid Haqan Abbas, at a time when Jamaat-i-Islami and Pak Sarzameen Party separately staged protest demonstrations against prolonged load shedding in the province.
“It seems that the PML-N Government has decided to target the people of Sindh for categorically rejecting it in the polls, however, we cannot act as a silent spectator to this situation,”
He says in his letter to the prime minister that he is compelled to write him yet again on the matter of reduced gas supply to K-Electric for power generation, as after two previous letters and numerous phone calls, the people of Sindh, particularly of Karachi, continue to cruelly be deprived of electricity. The only losers in the on-going blame game between K-Electric and SSGC are the residents of Pakistan’s largest city.
