Centre no more to supply 650MW power to K Electric: minister

ISLAMABAD: Federal State Minister for Water and Power Ch Abid Sher Ali here on Tuesday made it clear that federal government will not extend its existing agreement with K. Electric for further supply of 650 MW of electricity and to this effect Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has asked for review of existing agreement with K. Electric.
However, the central government will enter into new agreement with K. Electric with new terms and conditions under which it (K. Electric) will not be provided the electricity as per the rate at which electric power companies (Discos) are getting.
While talking to media persons on the occasion of inauguration of 132 kv grid station at F-16, Islamabad he said the federal government will not extend its agreement to continue supply electricity to K. Electric.
He also stated that Imran Khan, Chairman PTI has now paid the electricity bills to get rid of the noise pollution of diesel run electricity generator. The minister said that it is thankful for Imran Khan for abandoning the civil disobedience movement and pay the bill.
Mentioning about the issue of the government’s resolve not to extend the agreement with K. Electric for electricity supply, the minister disclosed saying that the prime minister to this effect has directed Federal Minister for Water and Power Kh Asif to take the politicians of the Sindh into confidence to avert the backlash from the Sindh government. Ch Abid said the K. Electric failed to increase its capacity to generate more electricity saying, “We need to take care of the interests of masses, not of the K. Electric.”
The state minister also divulged that K. Electric is needed to pay Rs100 billion against the dues of government departments. He said the federal government has moved the Supreme Court to set aside the stay order that K. Electric has got from the High Court against the decision of the government. Abid Sher said the government will further release the amount for power sector and recently it has released Rs17 billion.
The minister also claimed that the Nawaz government will add 1500-2000 MW electricity more in the system by next summer season and by next year 70 percent gas deficit will be overcome mentioning that the incumbent regime is not responsible for the existing gas crisis.