PESHAWAR - Both treasury and opposition benches in the Frontier Assembly were unanimous on Friday to
cut-off electricity supply mainly produced by the NWFP to the rest of the country, if hours-long unscheduled
load-shedding was not halted in the province forthwith.
Through an adjournment motion, the attention of the provincial lawmakers was brought to the ongoing merciless
load-shedding, and both treasury and opposition members were one to criticise Wapda for carrying out more
load-shedding in NWFP than its share.
The PPP Parliamentary leader, Abdul Akbar Khan moved the adjournment motion to discuss hours-long
load-shedding and price hike in the province during third day session of the provincial assembly meeting here
with acting speaker Khushdil Khan Advocate in the chair.
The mover informed the house that electricity supply mostly suspended from five to six and 15 to 16 hours in
urban and rural areas respectively, which he termed an injustice and accused the authorities concerned of
carrying out excessive load-shedding in the NWFP - far beyond its share. He suggested discussing the matter
with federal government without any further delay.
Taking part in the debate, opposition leader in the assembly and ex-chief minister Akram Khan Durrani
supported the mover and questioned why there was no loadshedding in the whole month of Ramazan and why it
was now being carried out again. The department concerned couldn’t control losses and that’s why deliberately
disconnected electricity to its consumers for no reason.
He asked the ANP-PPP led provincial government to take a firm stand like it had on the issue of moon sighting
and Eid and hoped it would help to get the desired results, saying the opposition would fully back the
government. “Once I had warned Wapda officials that police would not be deployed at grid stations and other
installations, if it did not co-operate with provincial government and ultimately they came on the track” he
recalled. He said that opposition would outrightly support the provincial government if it decided to cut-off power
supply to the rest of the country.
The PML (N) MPA Javid Abbasi and ANP MPA Saqibullah Khan Chamkani in their turn supported and called for
a unanimous resolution and a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Federal Minister for Wapda
Raja Pervez Ashraf over the issue.
The ANP Parliamentary leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour said, “Our province has been producing cheaper electricity.
But unfortunately, it has been sold on expensive rate especially in the NWFP, which is regrettable”. Over 4000
megawatts electricity is being produced in the NWFP, while its total need is just 1000 megawatts, but still we are
facing a severe load-shedding.”
He maintained that Wapda had become a white elephant. Thus, it was demanded of the government to abolish it
soon and must hand over its control to the Frontier province, like it was under its control prior to one-unit. He
appealed to the MNAs and Senators representing the NWFP in the Parliament to raise voice for provincial
rights. He said that electricity should be a provincial subject adding they might have severed power supply to
other parts of the country if it had been in their control.
On his turn, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, provincial Information Minister said that in order to minimise people’s
hardships, the government would have to take certain hard steps, saying that first right on electricity was of the
dwellers of this province. He said that federal government must accept the demands of the people of this
province. He, however, said that if their demands were not met then they would act what was decided by the
provincial lawmakers, he warned.
The PPP Senior Minister Rahim Dad Khan informed the house that at present total electricity shortage in the
province was almost 500 megawatts while about 3500 megawatts in the whole country. Ironically, people of our
province are experiencing more loadshedding as compared to other provinces. PML(Q) MPA Qalandar Khan
Lodi stressed the need for taking the load shedding issues up with federal government and minister concerned.
On this occasion, acting Speaker Khushdil Khan Advocate directed Rahim Dad Khan to wire a letter to the
federal government to discuss the matter and get resolved it on permanent basis.
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