Opposition presses ‘powerless’ PML-N to curb power crisis
By Zeeshan Ghayur

ISLAMABAD: Opposition legislators in the National Assembly on Tuesday flayed the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government over the scarcity of electricity.

Awami Muslim League (AML) lawmaker Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said, “Unemployment is directly related to the supply of electricity.” He said with the growing energy crisis in the country there has been a flight of capital resulting in scarcity of jobs. He said this is creating frustration and educated young people are forced to leave the country.

He said further the electricity revenue has dropped. He said that during his China trip he observed that the foreign businessmen are concerned with the energy crisis in Pakistan, which is restricting them from exploring investment options.

He said the trade links with Iran should be considered more rather than depending on the same from Kazakhstan. He suggested that the federal ministers convene a seminar calling the local energy experts and exchanging views on how the energy crisis could be effectively curbed.

He demanded that the federal government give details about the debt crisis that exists between the government and the independent power plants (IPPs). He suggested for inviting investors in the country so that various monopolies could be eradicated leading to access of better goods and services for the consumers at affordable premiums.

He lamented that the country is rife with corruption. He said that the country would progress faster if corruption is eradicated. He said that the installation of transformers is subject to bribery. He pointed out that the tube wells are installed irrespective of considering the value of the location.

He said a region where from the electricity revenue is low is primarily because the area has low standard of living and lower rates of earnings. He said the government needs to raise itself up and provide electricity for all.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the current interest rate in the country happens to be the lowest as compared with the figures of past 40 years. He said the government has taken this step to ensure that new enterprises are born and that a healthy business environment is fostered. “For the sake of industry there is currently zero load shedding,” Dar added.

He said the economy is growing at the rate of 4.24 percent while the incumbent regime plans to incorporate in the system at least 10,603 mega watt (MW) of electricity by the end of 2017. He added that work is underway at Tarbela 4, Neelum Jhelum power project for generating 969MW, Tarbela 5, Dasu dam for generating 2,300MW and currently the process of acquiring land has reached the advanced stage for Diamer Bhasha dam to generate 4,500MW. He said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would invest $34 billion for the sake of power generation.

He said that for IPPs Rs 418 billion debt has been paid off out of a total of Rs 503 billion. He said further the federal government is taking measures to ensure that there is zero debt when it comes to paying off the IPPs.

PTI lawmaker Shehryar Khan Afridi said that Hangu and Kohat are suffering from 17-18 hours of load shedding while the area has no workshop for the repair of transformers. He said the nearest repair workshop is in Nowshera.

He grieved that his constituency has deposited sums with the Water and Power Ministry for the procurement of transformers and despite the formation of several committees nothing has been done in this regard.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) lawmaker Sher Akbar Khan said District Buner is suffering from 18-20 hours of load shedding. He demanded that transformer workshops should be set up across the country. He pointed out that at the Nowshera workshop there is a scarcity of technical and mechanical staff.

State Minister for Power and Water Abid Sher Ali said that the high court had banned the procurement of transformers.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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