Prolonged power cuts: Assembly passes unanimous resolution against WAPDA

CM Khattak says he will resign if problem remains unresolved.

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday adopted a unanimous resolution asking the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to put an end to unannounced and prolonged power cuts in the province.

This was the first resolution passed by the assembly and was jointly moved by the opposition and treasury benches.

Just when Jamaat Islami (JI) lawmaker Muzaffar Said was about to present the resolution, opposition lawmakers criticised the government for going solo on this account. On this, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said the government is trying to keep the opposition on board for all matters.



“K-P needs 2,400 megawatts, however, Wapda which comes under the federal government is not giving us our due share,” Khattak said. The CM further said if he is unable to solve the problems of his province, he would resign from his position.

Health Minister Shaukat Yousafzai told the house that all provinces receive electricity on a fixed quota, but Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has been deprived of its rightful share for 13%. He claimed the National Power Control Centre which is responsible for dividing electricity between the provinces has discontinued supply to various grid stations serving the province. “This decision should be recalled immediately,” Yousafzai stated.

Earlier, Awami National Party lawmaker Shah Hussain Babak criticised the government for placing advertisements for positions in the revenue authority, which the government intends to form.

The K-P Finance Act 2013 was tabled in the assembly on June 17 which envisages the establishment of a K-P Revenue Authority in order to streamline revenue collection.

Babak said the bill has not been passed yet and the government cannot advertise jobs for it. “We have proposed certain amendments to the bill, how can jobs be advertised when it hasn’t even been approved by the assembly?” the opposition leader questioned. He added the move was equivalent to challenging the house’s authority.

In response to Babak’s statements, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Israrullah Khan Gandapur said the government is aware that lawmakers have reservations over the bill. “The advertisements are of no importance. No hiring will be done until the house approves the bill,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2013.