Gandapur, Centre to ‘jointly address’ K-P power woes
Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi and Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Laghari in a meeting with Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur. Photo APP
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Sunday met with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Federal Energy Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari wherein they agreed to jointly address the various issues being faced by the province including prolonged power outages.
According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, they exchanged views on the prevailing situation in K-P.
It added that important progress was made on electricity load shedding and other issues.
The participants of the meeting decided to meet again on Monday (today).
The K-P CM is in the federal capital, where he attended the apex committee meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
The SIFC is a government agency aimed at attracting foreign investments and fostering the nation's economic growth. Chaired by the prime minister, the council includes all provincial chief ministers and the army chief.
A day earlier, enraged protesters, led by PTI MPA Fazal Elahi, forced their way into a grid station in Peshawar and activated feeders, prompting the city’s power utility to seek an FIR against him.
According to a spokesperson for the Peshawar Electric Supply Corporation (Pesco), the PTI MPA and a group of protesters surrounded the Rehman Baba Grid Station.
He added that the protesters, accompanied by Elahi, forcibly entered the station and switched on nine feeders, which were considered high-loss because of extensive electricity theft as well as unpaid bills.
"The feeders activated include those in Hazarkhwani, Yakatoot, Akhunabad, New Chamakani, Surizai Bala, Shalozan, and Qalandarabad," the Pesco spokesperson said.
"These feeders have losses exceeding 80% because of electricity theft and non-payment of dues. We are actively working to reduce these losses.”
Following negotiations between Elahi and Pesco officials, an agreement was reached, resulting in the resumption of power supply to Hazarkhwani and other affected areas from the Rehman Baba Grid Station.
Subsequently, he called off the protest, and the demonstrators dispersed.
However, the Pesco executive engineer later submitted a complaint to the Rehman Baba SHO seeking an FIR against the PTI MPA.