KP Assembly witnesses heated debate over energy crisis

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday witnessed a heated debate on the issue of energy crisis as members complained about excessive power and gas loadshedding in the province.

Khushdil Khan of Awami National Party (ANP) on a point of order raised the issue of hours long power loadshedding and gas shortage in the province He said unprecedented power outages were carried out even during the Eid days, which led to water shortage and caused miseries to the consumers. He said that besides power, gas also remained cut-off for hours.

Fazal Elahi of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supported the point of order and suggested that the development funds of MNAs should be directly diverted to Wapda for upgrading electricity feeders and transmission lines to resolve the loadshedding and low voltage problem.

He said that Wapda had failed to solve the problems of the people regarding electricity. Mian Nisar Gul of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam also complained that the province was facing power and gas outages. He said the consumers were the ultimate sufferers.

He said people were protesting against power and gas loadshedding despite the fact KP produced surplus electricity and gas. He accused Pesco staff of corruption and taking bribes for installation of meters. Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Industries Abdul Karim Khan said that the Senate was told that KP was being provided 1100 megawatt electricity against its consumption of 2000 megawatt.

He said the province could not be provided its due share of power due to outdated transmission lines. Supporting the point, Minister for Housing Dr Amjad Ali said Pesco was adopting delaying tactics as it was not releasing transformers and poles. He said Pesco chief and other authorities concerned should be called to the assembly and asked why problems being faced by the people were not being solved.

Pakhtunyar Khan of PTI said that 20 to 22 hours loadshedding was carried out in Bannu. He supported the constitution of a parliamentary committee and calling Pesco chief to the House to brief the lawmakers about loadshedding. Transformers were not provided despite submitting money in 2019 and 2020, he complained.

He said loadshedding was a major problem which needed a proper solution. Speaker Mushtaq Ghani asked Minister for Labour and Culture Shaukat Yousafzai to tell the House what was the solution to this problem.

“I have submitted an amount for transformers in 2018 but these could not be provided to water supply schemes in my constituency,” he complained. Shaukat Yousafzai blamed the previous governments for not constructing dams. Had dams been built and electricity generated from water, the country would not have faced power shortage, he argued.

He said the incumbent government had launched work on the construction of two dams. He said in the past electricity was produced from oil that was expensive leading to increase in tariff. The minister said the outdated transmission lines were not capable of supplying power to the province.

Ikhtiar Wali of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said the PTI minister for energy had admitted the PML-N government generated 12,000 megawatts electricity. He asked why 20 to 22 hours loadshedding was being carried out. “What steps did this government take to improve transmission lines if surplus electricity was available during the three years? he asked.

Condemning the renaming of Nawaz Sharif Kidney Hospital in Swat, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan should establish more hospitals instead of fixing plaques on schemes launched by others.