Khursheed Shah thunders in Parliament, hits out at federal govt for power outages

Published June 24, 2015
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah lashes out at the federal government for power cuts across the country. — DawnNews screengrab
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah lashes out at the federal government for power cuts across the country. — DawnNews screengrab

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah on Wednesday lashed out at the federal government for power cuts across the country as the death toll from the heatwave reached a staggering 830 in four days.

In an emotional speech centred on the overwhelming loss of life in Karachi which he linked with power cuts, Shah took the floor after Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif had furnished the House with details of power supply and shortage across the country.

“For god’s sake! The government should stop talking about calculations and talk about saving lives," Shah thundered. “Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had said there won't be any loadshedding in Ramazan.”

In defence of the beleaguered Sindh government, Shah hit out at the federal government for not delivering on its promise to end the power crisis. “The government has made promises [to end loadshedding] in three months, then six months, then one year and now two years – you are now saying 2018!" He called on the government to admit its failure.

Take a look: Political inertia in heat crisis

Shah’s emotions ran high as he shared a death toll of 1,200 from across Sindh. “This is not a time for politics. I am in pain today. People are dying and there is no water to wash corpses. And you are blaming the Sindh government?”

He added that the centre should take over K-Electric and that Qaim Ali Shah’s government would support the move.

“Thousands are dying in Karachi. This is not a K-Electric problem — this is a Pakistan problem.”

Shah’s speech was directed at Khawaja Asif, who had taken his seat after saying in an earlier speech that the power crisis in Sindh is not the responsibility of the federal government.

“Abid Sher Ali is a child. But you are an educated man,” he said, adding that the government should not indulge in “criticism for the sake of criticism”.

He lambasted the federal government and asked where the 24,000 megawatts of electricity is that the minister for water and power had promised to include in the system.

Govt not responsible for power shortfall in Karachi: Khawaja Asif

Addressing the National Assembly, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif says that there is a power shortfall of almost three thousand megawatts. — DawnNews screengrab
Addressing the National Assembly, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif says that there is a power shortfall of almost three thousand megawatts. — DawnNews screengrab

Earlier while addressing the Parliament, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif expressed grief over the deaths in Karachi caused by a devastating heatwave but categorically stated that the federal government is not responsible for the power shortfall in Sindh's provincial capital.

Earlier, the National Assembly had adopted a motion moved by Khawaja Asif to discuss the situation arising out of the energy and electricity crisis in the country.

Adopting a defensive attitude, Asif said Karachi Electric (KE) is responsible for providing electricity to Sindh and not the federal government.

Read: Simple steps could have prevented heatwave deaths: doctors

He also said that the deaths in Karachi are linked with the heatwave and not electricity shortfall.

Asif said there is a power shortfall of almost 3,000 megawatts in Pakistan.

Giving a brief overview of the performance of Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) across the country, the minister said the total national power generation as of Wednesday morning stood at 13,144MW, while the total demand of power clocked in at 16,645MW.

The minister said that from July 2014 to April 2015, Gujranwala Electric Power Company's (Gepco) billing stood at 98.4 per cent, while losses were 9.8pc, adding that it was 7pc less as compared to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority's (Nepra) overall losses.

Asif said Multan Electric Power Company’s (Mepco) billing was 100pc during the period under review, adding that Faisalabad Electric Supply Company’s (Fesco) billing also stood at 100pc.

Read more: ‘People are dying and everyone is blaming KE for its failure to cope with the situation’

He further said Lahore Electric Supply Company's (Lesco) billing is 98.2pc whereas Islamabad Electric Supply Company's (Iesco) is 89.2pc.

The minister said the losses in Islamabad were due to Afghan refugees who had established several slums and were also involved in incidents of power theft. He said that two Iesco employees had spotted power theft sometime ago, and had initiated action against the accused persons but were shot dead.

Speaking about the electricity situation in Quetta, the minister said that the Balochistan government had intimated a few days ago that the power supply in the province was satisfactory. He congratulated the Ministry of Water and Power for their role in this regard.

He, however, revealed that billing in Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) is only 33pc, adding that the ministry has been facing a huge loss in recovery.

Asif further said that billing in Peshawar is 87.3pc. Hyderabad Electric Supply Company's (Hesco) recoveries have been clocked in at 76pc, while Sukkur Electric Power Company's (Sepco) stood at 57.8pc, he added.

PTI hits out at Nawaz, Shahbaz

PTI lawmaker Asad Umar while addressing the Parliament questions the status of Nandipur and Gaddani power projects. — DawnNews screengrab
PTI lawmaker Asad Umar while addressing the Parliament questions the status of Nandipur and Gaddani power projects. — DawnNews screengrab

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Asad Umar while addressing the Parliament questioned the status of Nandipur and Gaddani power projects.

“The Nandipur power project was worked on for three days…it is a Rs57 billion project which has been shut for a year,” he said.

The PTI lawmaker threw his weight behind the opposition leader and lashed out at Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

“People are dying in Karachi and the Punjab Chief Minister — whose family is in power and has given its name to the ruling party — is throwing iftar parties”

Reciting Habib Jalib couplets in jalsas will not end the power crisis, he said, as lawmakers applauded. “Look beyond your friends and relatives,” Umer further said. “Till professionals are not given control of this sector, then god forbid we will have to witness yet another day when over 700 are dead.”

A deadly heatwave that has killed over 750 people in Sindh showed signs of easing on Wednesday, bringing some respite to the sweltering city of Karachi.

Temperatures in the city were forecast to peak at 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit), down from the 40-plus highs of recent days.

The majority of the deaths in Karachi have been among the poor and manual labourers who work outdoors, prompting clerics to urge those at risk of heatstroke not to fast.

This year's heatwave has coincided with the start of the Islamic fasting month of Ramazan, during which Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset.

— With additional input from AFP.

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