QUETTA: Lawmakers of the provincial assembly bitterly criticised the Wapda management for unscheduled loadshedding in Balochistan.

Due to loadshedding standing crops were being damaged and demanded of the federal government for supplying proper electricity to the province.

Speaker Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali chaired the session here on Friday.

Speaking on point of orders both treasury and opposition members expressed their resentment over the unscheduled loadshedding in Balochistan and warned that if the federal government and Wapda authorities did not take proper measures, the farmers would take to streets.

They claimed that electricity requirement in Balochitan was 1600 megawatt while the Quetta electric supply company (Qesco) was providing only 500mw to farmers and general consumers.

The agriculturists, they said, were facing numerous problems as standing crops and orchards have dried up due to shortage of water.

Supporting the members, the chief minister said that load shedding was a national problem which has to be resolved. It is also true that Balochistan was facing serious problem and in this regard “we have discussed the matter with the concerned authorities”, the CM said.

He said that federal and Balochistan governments were paying Rs12billion subsidy to electricity company to adjust the bills of farmers’ tubewells and expressed the hope that the problem would be resolved soon.

The Speaker, on this occasion, emphasised that the agreement between the committee members and Wapda authorities should be implemented in letter and spirit to resolve the issue amicably otherwise the farmers would be compelled to launch a protest.

The session was adjourned till Monday.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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