CM complains Centre giving cold shoulder to KP proposals

NOWSHERA: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has the potential to generate 50,000 megawatt electricity but the federal government is giving could shoulder to this important issue.
He was talking to media at his hometown of Manki Sharif after the “chehlum” of his cousin and brother-in-law Abdul Latif Khan Khattak on Sunday.
Member National Assembly Dr Imran Khattak, District Nazim Liaqat Khan Khattak, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf office-bearers and workers were also present on the occasion.
The chief minister said power could be produced at much cheaper rates in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which would help solve the energy crisis gripping the country.
“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has invited the federal government to launch almost dozens of power generation projects. The hydel resources are far cheaper than the other ones. I don’t know why Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and [Punjab Chief Minister] Shahbaz Sharif are putting more stress on gas and furnace oil to generate power which would be much costly,” said Pervez Khattak.
The chief minister said the federal government is ignoring the KP government proposals for cheap power generation, which is causing unrest among the people in this province.
Pervez Khattak said the KP government had launched work on small power generation project despite limited resources at hand. “We have invited tenders from the private sector for implement the projects to generate 1,200 megawatt power,” he explained.
The chief minister said the provincial government had completed the feasibility study of 24 projects to generate power from hydel resources. “Another report for constructing 13 dams to generate power has also been submitted to the federal government,” he elaborated.
Pervez Khattak said a room could be created for the power generation through cheap hydel resources in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Plan but the federal government is unresponsive to issue.
The chief minister said talks were being held with the federal government to get rights for the province. These included, he added, share in hydel profit, additional share in water resources, gas and mineral resources along with forest royalty.
“We will seek a progress report on the issues taken up with the Centre at upcoming meeting of the Council of Common Interests. No delaying tactics will be acceptable in this regard,” he vowed.
Pervez Khattak said the KP government had reservations of mega projects in the province and the federal government should have them addressed.
He said the KP government would take up with the federal government several mega projects such as Chashma Right Bank Canal, Lowari Tunnel, Munda dam, Diamer-Bhasha dam, and a number of other projects.
Pervez Khattak complained that excessive loadshedding was being carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which was a grave injustice to the province.
“I will take up this issue with the federal government, Water and Power Development Authority and Peshawar Electric Supply Company chiefs. A detailed report would be sought from these officials, he promised.
The chief minister said the provincial government extended all cooperation to the Pesco in moving against the power thieves. “But the Pesco staff members are themselves involved in power theft. Power consumers in KP are being teased on purpose,” he deplored.
Pervez Khattak said Pesco was carrying out from eight to 14 hours loadshedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which, he said, was not acceptable to the provincial government. He asked the federal government to review the loadshedding schedule for the province.
The chief minister was all praise for different government departments and agencies for ensuing peace during the 10 days of Muharram.
“This shows the best strategy of the police and other law-enforcement agencies. All this became possible with the cooperation of the citizens,’ he acknowledged.
Pervez Khattak greeted Chief Secretary Amjad Ali Khan, Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani, and all those who were part of the team that ensured peace during Muharram.