Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif says government is ready to transfer control of the distribution company in K-P to provincial government. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Frustrated with the electric power situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan had demanded that the government hand over control of power distribution in the province to him.
Little did Imran expect that his proposal will be welcomed by the government.
Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif, while talking to Express News on Monday evening, welcomed the offer and said that the government was ready to hand over the distribution and recovery network in K-P to the provincial government.
“If he can help us in this regard and improve the system there [in K-P], then that is good.”
Asked if control of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) would be handed over immediately, Asif said that was doable.
“Yes it [transfer of control] can be done immediately. He [Imran] can take control of Pesco and handle the distribution of electricity and recovery.”
The government has come under fire for not fully realising its election promise of controlling prolonged power cuts, line losses and electricity theft, and Asif defended the government on this.
“This is not about us failing. Over the past three, four months, there has been a reduction in line losses and theft. We do not claim there has been radical change, but there has been reduction, there has been improvement.”
“If the K-P government believes that they can bring marked improvement in the system, then they should do it. If someone is trying to do good, we should not obstruct that.”
Asked how soon can control be given to the PTI-led government in K-P, Asif said that the government was willing to hand it over control in the new year.
“He [Imran Khan] proposed January 1, he can take charge of Pesco from January 1, 2014.”
“What he [Imran] wants he can do, we can give him control of the entire distribution company.”
Under the landmark 18th Amendment, power is one of the subjects that is supposed to be devolved to provinces. However, due to a multitude of issues, this has not happened so far.
PTI terms Asif’s statement ‘ludicrous’
PTI reacted angrily to the Federal Minister’s offer to hand over distribution of electricity in K-P on to the provincial government from January 1, 2014, claiming that K-P should be strengthened and made self sufficient in power production.
PTI condemns Khwaja Asif's statements regarding Pepco. Federal Minister should act more responsibly rather than giving ludicrous statements.
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 23, 2013
Pepco is only responsible for the distribution of electricity. KPK should be strengthened & made self sufficient for the production 1/2
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 23, 2013
2/2 of electricity instead of its distribution. Khwaja Asif should show some character/courage & tender his resignation as minister.
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 23, 2013
Its unfair & criminal of the fed govt to buy electricity from KP at cheap rates & sell back at high rates and that also in lower quantity.
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 23, 2013
COMMENTS (35)
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Why not handover the Prime Ministership? PML N has shown its incompetence in weeks not months. PTI please accept if Nawaz Sharif surrenders.
@xor: The generation under the provincial investment should be handed over to KPK, no problem. But I don't know many provincial power generation projects erected by KPK governments of the past. Most of the power generation projects are erected and run by WAPDA. However, it seems like PTI cyber warriors are already finding escape routes.......However, KPK government can certainly contain line losses and distribution structure through PESCO and other subsidiaries. If she is able to improve collection rate (the real problem).
This shows the incompetency of government. After 6 months they are ready to hand over the central projects to provinces. If this practice continuous, tomorrow they will offer to KPK government to deal with terrorism as well, foreign policy as well, construction of new dams etc etc. If the government has failed to achieve its goal, a gentleman way is to step forward and present the resignation.
oh KPK gov wants all the hydel projects to be given so them? sure, once they can pay for the investment plus reasonable return to the fed govt which owes billions on to the WB for the construction. typical pti, worthless just like the rest of the pak politicians.
Neither of them is serious and they are all talking from both sides of their mouths. Nothing would happen except more mud slinging and dirty laundry in public.
message for pti,s ignorant babies and trolls. the dams were built by federal government which used tax payers money from all over pakistan. a special tax was introduced for this. most of this tax was paid from karachi. kpl has the lowest tax paying ratios. why should people who hace paid their money to build this give up their right on these dams. if u have the guts manage pesco like kesc is done.
wait...wasn't khwaja the new defense minister??
Once again ET failed to give full picture, PTI asked for full ownership which includes generation too.
Lol! PML-N has no confidence in it's self and so easily passes the buck. What next defence ministry? Sharif bros were, are and always will incompetent. What did Nawaz say 'I have a fantastic team'. Bunch of losers.
To all,
Before anyone bash me. I wrote my comment before ET updated this story with twitter screenshots. And I guess I am turning right already.
PTI wants controls of teh whole power generation within KPK as well as its distribution and collection. PML(N) is not ready for that.
@Uzair Ahmed: LOL, this is a good one.
The government in K-P should also be given total control over WARSAK, Dargai and Tarbala power plants and the revenue generated should be utilized in K-P to create more generating plants to make K-P self sufficient in energy sector. Mr.Khawaja Asif , would you agree to that too, tell us now and put your money where your mouth is. It is all about talk talk and talk for you is cheap.
Maybe khuaja asif did not pay attention. Offer given by PTI is hand over of production units and distribution units. Asif dont twist the facts. Et plz post
PTI should accept this offer with both hands and show N league the way, but after obtaining two written guarantees (no oral promises with them, given Sharif family’s past): 1. The fruits of improvement in KP’s electricity distribution will be shared within the province. KP is one of the country’s least electrified provinces and faces disproportionate amount of electricity shortage despite its sizeable contribution of generated power. 2. Electricity distribution and generation both functions will be handed over to the provincial government, and not merely the thankless job of controling line losses.
On a general note, if this is a sincere attempt at improving the country’s electricity crisis, the generation and distribution functions should entirely be handed over to the provinces allowing them the freedom to manage their resources themselves.
All PTI does is condemn, moan and then dharna. Chit bhi meri pat bhi mera....boring!
Most of electricity in KPK, 90 percent, is from Tarbela. It is biggest water storage reservoir in country built and operated by federal Govt. Federal Govt is responsible for judicious distribution of water resources, It should never be given to a province.
Moreover it is located in Hazara where people dont want to be part of KPK. And they get nothing from KPK Government for the royalty it receives from centre.
First politically brilliant move by PMLN. Btw just for PTI and IKs information, KPK receives royalties for the cheap electricity which forms a significant component of its budget they are free to subsidise the rates in KPK.
Again, ET has failed to properly present the facts with regards to PTIs stance. Maybe somebody at ET could watch Asad Umars explanation before they start writing out their headline news...
this is what PTI said http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?222095-Asad-Umar-s-Bold-Offer-on-the-behalf-of-KPK-government
Pakistani are an excellent example of a people who will, till their last breath, criticize others for wrongdoing yet continue to do it themselves. When confronted that you are doing the same things as the others you criticize, they will respond that since everyone does it, whats wrong in me doing it?
Case in point: We are all talkers, none of us are doers. IK and NS are both talkers, IK aint doing jack!
Why does he look like an angry version of shabaz sharif?!
@faisal: PTI is demands unlimited party. They can't manage distribution but they want to control everything from A to Z. First show you can mange a part which is well within the powers of KPK but no they won't do it. Politics at it best.
LOL...I am pretty sure IK is never going to accept this offer. Since he was only doing his regular popularistic drama/dharna over any thing which can get claps from attendance.
Good move. Make him busy in positive activities.
I love the way they (PML-N) do it !!!
This would put a stop to non stop talks of some leaders. Let us give full powers to all the provinces so they cannot continue to play blame games then hold their feet to the fire. Let us hope that these two leaders are not all talk but do it.
I think Imran is over reacting on situation....
What he has done for KP so far??
Irony is that whenever the provinces are asked to clear their electricity bills they just start chanting anti pakistan slogans...
I ask there was pratically Sindh's Govt on Pk for last 15years(zardari and musharraf) , cant these people see what damage they have done to Pakistan??why they were sleeping at that time??
If this news come true (don't trust PML-N words), then loadshedding not only in KP would be reduced, but PTI's KP government will also supply electricity to the rest of Pakistan.
Seems like more of a political move by PMLN to put back PTI genie in the bottle because of their recent protests.
I believe he asked for control of electricity that's not limited to PESCO only. Khawaj Asif perhaps is trying to play smart here. PTI is asking them to handover the production (from KPK hydel) alongwith distribution. Asad Umar clarified this a few days back on Dunya TV.
This is an intelligent move by the Minister. PESCO has highest ratio of defaulters at 40%, with some areas not paying for the electricity they use! Having been involved in recovery, the radicalized puppet government of PTI in KPK will understand the ground realities rather than political point-scoring on every issue!
Pti should come forward and accept the challenge. Action speaks louder than words.
DISCo's alone shouldn't be handed over - DISCo's and GENCo's both.