Asif apologises for Sindh power breakdown

Tells CM federal government doing its best to reduce power outages

KARACHI: A day after Sindh chief minister wrote a letter to federal government protesting against hours-long power breakdown in Sindh on the first day of Ramazan, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif telephoned him, assuring that the government is doing its best to reduce power outages.

“I am really sorry for the breakdown due to which people suffered immensely [on the first day of Ramazan],” Asif said. “Federal government is trying its best to reduce the power load shedding.”



Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah drew his attention towards 10-18 hours load shedding in various districts of Sindh and said, “Despite the fact we have paid millions of rupees to power utility companies and cleared our dues, there is no electricity in major parts of Sindh.”

Earlier, Shah had expressed fear that fragile and unreliable transmission network might collapse during Ramazan, causing immense suffering to people of Sindh. He shared the concern through a letter he had sent to the power minister.



“I am writing with reference to my earlier mail dated 24.05.2017 wherein apprehensions were expressed that due to fragile and unreliable transmission network, the power supply may collapse during Ramazan, and people of Sindh would suffer immensely,” he said in the letter.

"My apprehensions sadly came true on 1st day of Ramazan (May 28, 2017) when 13 districts of rural Sindh and half of Karachi division plunged into darkness, [when] 500 KV Hubco-Jamshoro transmission line tripped at around 2:15 am," it added.