MPAs criticise federal govt for its ‘incompetence’

Memon hints at going to court against power utility companies


Hafeez Tunio November 20, 2018
Sindh Assembly Session. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The Sindh Assembly lawmakers on Monday criticised the federal government for its incompetence and power utility companies for long hours of load-shedding in the province. During the discussion on an adjournment motion moved by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MPA Mohammad Rashid Khilji on unannounced load-shedding across Sindh, the MPAs said that disruption of power has not stopped even in winter, causing great inconvenience to the agriculture sector and small and medium enterprises.

"We suffer from seven to eight hours of load-shedding in Hyderabad and its adjoining areas. When we call the power companies, the officials justify the issue as a technical fault because of smog and foggy weather. We pay the bills on time, but no one heeds us," said Khilji.

Mohammad Hussain of MQM, criticising the federal government, said that when Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), K-Electric and other power companies are asked about the reason for breakdowns, they say, "There was mist so grid stations have tripped." According to Hussain, a strong message should be conveyed to the federal government for its failure to provide electricity to consumers.

Sharjeel Inam Memon, who had been languishing in Karachi Central Jail, attended the assembly session and announced that they would approach the courts against the power utility companies. "Please take action against power thieves. Why are you punishing the consumers?" he asked, adding that there was 15-18 hours of load-shedding in many rural areas of Sindh and officials of power companies have turned a blind eye to people's complaints. Memon claimed that power companies send inflated and excessive bills without proper reading of meters. "No one turns up for meter readings. The bills are sent on estimated readings. This is ridiculous," he added.

Nusrat Seher Abbasi of Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) said that load-shedding was not a new issue, it continued throughout the tenure of Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) government from 2008 to 2013. "You are making hue and cry now and were earlier mum on this issue. You failed to take any decisive action nor made any policy on it," she said, adding that no one was willing to speak against K-Electric because everyone had taken benefit from it by appointing their own people. Sindh government had earmarked around Rs50 billion for the construction of small dams and Rs8b were allocated for solar bulbs, which could not see the light of day, according to Abbasi. "The funds have been bungled and a lot of the MPAs sitting in this house are also facing inquires in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB)."

The Energy Minister Imtiaz Shaikh drew the attention on wind energy projects and said, "Sindh government has produced light from wind and wants to expand the scope of this project, but federal government is discouraging and creating problems. I request the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) friends sitting in this house to convince their government in Islamabad."

Karachi Central Jail

Earlier as the session started with Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in the chair, PTI MPA Jamal Siddiqui drew the attention of the House and said that Karachi Central Jail was located in a congested area where residents face problems due to jammers and other security issues. "I want to know what steps the Sindh government has taken to shift the jail from Karachi to somewhere else," he inquired, adding, "In case of emergency, people can't make calls while notorious criminals in jails use mobile phones freely."

Prisons Minister Nasir Shah refuted the stance that criminals use phones inside the jail and said, "Since the neighbourhood surrounding jail can't make calls, how is it possible to use mobile phones inside jails. This is totally wrong." The minister informed the House that the government has arranged land near Jhimpir where the central jail can be shifted. "Soon after the jail is shifted, we can build parks or playgrounds on the plot of central jail," he added.

Syed Imran Ali Shah of PTI raised the issue of shortage of rabies vaccine and said, "The population of stray dogs is on the rise," while the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre is lacking in vaccines. The same is the situation in Civil hospital, according to Shah, and rest of Sindh where around 25,000 cases have been reported this year alone.

Health Minister Azra Pechuho denied the reports about shortage of anti-rabies vaccine and said, "The vaccines are available in all district and tehsil hospitals. Last year, around 38,000 dog bite cases were reported and 191,000 dozes of anti-rabies vaccines were administrated to victims."  She suggested the district government and local bodies to control the population of stray dogs to avoid such incidents. Later, the speaker adjourned the session till Tuesday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2018.

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ