CHARSADDA, May 12: Two times more electricity can be produced by water resources than the country’s current needs, said former Water and Power Development Authority chief Abdullah Jan Khan on Saturday.

He was speaking at a function organised by Mohammadzai Union of Journalists to discuss power crisis and find ways and means to overcome it.

Mr Abdullah said the country’s current electricity demand was around 19,000 megawatts though it had the capacity to generate over 59,000 megawatts of electricity by water.

“It means Pakistan can produce two times more electricity than its current needs and thus, ending the current energy crisis. The surplus electricity can be exported to get huge foreign exchange,” he said.

The ex-Wapda chief said Pakistan currently produced 7,000 megawatts of hydel power by using 12 per cent of water resources. The rest goes to waste due to poor planning and disinterest of the relevant authorities,” he said.

He said the current ‘game of energy crisis’ was meant to please and accommodate international power producers and that continuation of that game would turn Pakistan bankrupt. He demanded fair and transparent inquiry into payments to IPPs.Mr Abdullah suggested construction of small dams in all provinces, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to meet power shortage.

He said the Malakand III hydropower project cost Rs4.75 billion to the government but generated Rs6.25 billion revenue.

The ex-Wapda chief proposed that Warsak, Tarbela and Dargai powerhouses be upgraded for better production and helping overcome energy crisis in the province.

He welcomed the proposed plan of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company privatisation and said if the plan’s implementation would improve power production and build capacity of the Pesco’s workers. He suggested establishment of new powerhouses in the province.

Meanwhile, people wielding batons on Saturday blocked Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway in Nesatta area for hours against excessive loadshedding lasting 20 hours.

Police baton-charged and teargassed protesters but failed to clear the motorway.

Later, local leaders Abdur Rehman and Salim Khan stepped in and held talks with police leading to peaceful dispersal of protesters.

Also in the day, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl leaders and workers staged a rally in Tangi area against cable operators accusing them of spreading vulgarity and obscenity.

Gohar Ali, Hanifullah Hasrat and Zahoorul Haq, who led the rally, demanded a ban on cable network and warned that they would crack down on cable offices if they’re not shut down voluntarily. Protesters later dispersed peacefully.