QUETTA, June 24: The Water and Power Development Authority has decided to stop power supply to over a dozen cities and towns of Balochistan from July 1 by closing 15 power houses because of financial crisis.

The Quetta Electricity Supply Company has informed the provincial government about the decision through a letter to the provincial irrigation and power department.

“All power houses will be shut down from July 1 in 15 areas of Balochistan,” a Qesco official informed the provincial government, asking it to pay the required amount if it wanted the supply to continue.

Qesco, for several years, had been supplying electricity for 12 hour a day through power houses to 15 towns and cities not linked with the national grid.

The sources said Qesco had informed the provincial government that because of financial crisis being faced by the company it was not possible for it to continue supplying electricity to the cities.

“The provincial government should pay the difference between the power generation cost and revenue earned from the consumers,” Qesco authorities said in the letter.

“The provincial government should pay Rs160 million to Qesco till June 30 for continuing the power supply,” Qesco officials told the provincial department.

However, provincial government officials are of the view that power supply to all areas of the country is the responsibility of Wapda and President Pervez Musharraf has directed the authority to ensure electricity supply to all villages by 2007.

Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani and Minister for Prisons and Human Rights Mir Habibur Rehman Mohammad Hasni informed the house about the decision of Wapda.

The towns which will be affected include Washik, Dalbandin, Nokundi, Awaran, Mashky, Dureji, Kapar, Jewani, Ormara, Pishkan and Nelat.