Information minister blasts Centre for ‘false promises’

Says power issue in Sindh is being ignored by federal govt, K-E should stop load-shedding

KARACHI: Transport, Labour, Human Resources and Information Minister Nasir Hussain Shah has warned K-Electric (K-E) to stop its unannounced load-shedding in the city and focus on enhancing its capability to provide relief to consumers.

Addressing a press conference on Friday at the Karachi Press Club, the information minister drew the media’s attention towards the hours-long power breakdown in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, criticising K-Electric and other power utility companies. "On one hand the people of Sindh are deprived of electricity on the other hand the federal government calls them power thieves," he lamented.

"The Sindh government has cleared all its outstanding dues but the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) and Sukkur Electric Supply Company (Sepco) are reluctant to provide electricity to upper and lower Sindh," he lamented, adding that 10 to 15 hours of load-shedding continues in various districts. "The chief minister, during his meeting with the K-Electric management, expressed his dismay and the officials of the power company have assured to resolve this issue," he said, adding that the Sindh government has established its own power plant and inked an agreement with K-Electric to supply 100 megawatts of electricity.



He said if the prime minister could not resolve the power issue, then the Sindh government, led by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, will do it.

Shah, who was flanked by Senator Aajiz Dhamrah, referred to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif's promises to resolve power issues in Pakistan within four months and said, "Both should tender apologies to the nation for their fake promises".

Responding to a question about the reshuffle in Sindh cabinet and removal of the incumbent chief minister from his post, he said, "Murad Ali Shah will complete his tenure as CM and will resume the office even after 2018 election because the Pakistan Peoples Party will again sweep the polls".



Senator Dhamrah was of the view that people in Sindh have been protesting against power breakdowns, but the federal government is not heeding their cries. "Inflated bills are issued to people. The Jacobabad municipality has more bills than Lahore. Can you imagine this?" he questioned.

He called the federal cabinet incompetent and said its state minister for water and power, Abid Sher Ali, misguides the nation through false statements.