May 15 , 2015
News
Pakhtunkhwa CM meets federal ministers
KP govt to support PESCO in load management, recoveries from defaulters
INPISLAMABAD - In pursuance of the agreement between Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak for meeting on various matters relating to the province, a detailed meeting was held at the Ministry of Water and Power on Friday.
The meeting decided that the provincial government and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) would hold a meeting on May 26 under the chairmanship of Pakhtunkhwa chief minister for working out details regarding distribution of electricity in different parts of the province.
It was agreed that the provincial government would support PESCO in load management and recoveries as agreed in the meeting. It was principally agreed that power outages should be directly proportional to the losses on particular feeders. It was also agreed that the provincial government would extend full support in the form of registration of first information report (FIR), police action against defaulters and power theft and corruption in the power sector.
It was agreed that uncapping of net hydel profit as worked out by both the sides should be taken to the Council of Common Interest by the federal government so that the matter may be addressed on long and viable basis. The meeting also agreed that the federal government would assist the provincial government for investment in its 13 identified power projects.
The power minister directed PESCO officials to prioritise the electricity connections of schools, hospitals and other provincial development projects. Khawaja Asif offered to assist the provincial government in identification of solar power projects site, and facilitation in development in the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) mode on the pattern of Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park.
The minister further directed PESCO to immediately take steps for power purchase agreement of Peshawar Power Project, and calculate its liabilities in close coordination with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Energy Department.
On matters relating to Finance Division, Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar assured that all matters would be addressed on priority basis, and directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman to hold in-depth meeting with provincial revenue and excise authorities for discussion on issues and find out possible solutions.
Similarly on issues pertaining to Petroleum Sector, Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi held detailed discussion with the delegation.
The meeting agreed to continue coordination and sharing of data on expert level for amicable and viable solution of issues relating to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, secretaries of the ministries for Finance, Water and Power, FBR chairman and other senior official represented the federal government. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was led by Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Asad Umar.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk