Balochistan Assembly demands continuous power supply

QUETTA:

Balochistan Assembly on Friday passed a resolution calling on the federal government to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the province.

The resolution, introduced by Maulana Hidayatur Rehman of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), also demanded that the province should be declared a disaster-hit area and electricity dues should be waived off.

"Quetta produces electricity, and it is just to say that the people of Balochistan should benefit from non-stop supply," the resolution asserted. It pointed out the drastic reduction in electricity provided to the Makran division from Iran, which has dropped from 200 MW to just 10 MW. The resolution further demanded that power supplied from Iran should be billed at Iranian rates.

Both government and opposition parties backed the resolution. "We refuse to pay the IPP (Independent Power Producer) bills," declared government member Farah Azim Shah, expressing deep dissatisfaction with the situation.

Assembly members also called for the inclusion of gas loadshedding in the resolution.

"We live in modern times, yet we are still struggling for basic necessities like gas and electricity as well as clean potable water," lamented several members of the Assembly.

During the Assembly session, chaired by Khair Jan Baloch, Chief Minister Balochistan was instructed to form a committee to take up the gas and electricity crisis with the Prime Minister which has greatly impacted the lives of general public in the province.

Provincial ministers Mir Asim Kurd Gailo, Mir Sadiq Umrani, and Saleem Khan Khoso also voiced their support for the resolution.

"This resolution is fully justified," said Maulana Hidayatur Rehman.

The people of Balochistan deserve reliable electricity and relief from mounting bills, he added.