Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervez Khattak. Photo: NNI/FILE
PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervez Khattak on Tuesday said that the province has rights over 16 per cent of the electricity produced in the country and that is exactly what the provincial government seeking from the center.
Speaking to Express News show host Shahzeb Khanzada during "To the Point", the chief minister said that they would try other ways of asking for their rights before resorting to carrying out protests but hoped the issue would get resolved by mutual cooperation.
"We were not voted in power to fight. We understand that the federal government doesn't have enough time to solve problems and I don't blame them," said Khattak.
He said other provinces would also benefit once a procedure to distribute electricity is devised.
"Even though, it is the responsibility of the federation, I'm willing to contribute Rs2-3 billion to improve our distribution system," said Khattak, adding that he just wanted the problems of the people to be resolved.
He said that he wanted the federal government to approve the schemes that they had devised for the province to resolve problems.
“Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that our proposals will be approved within 45 days and if they are not, they will be deemed as approved," said Khattak, claiming that the government was delaying the approval, which was hindering their talks with potential investors.
K-P chief minister asserted that being given control over Pesco won't do any good if electricity production was not duly allocated.
"Wapda had agreed to supply electricity but later retracted from its stateemts," said Khattak, adding that the resulting load shedding gave a bad name to the provincial government.
"If only we can get a schedule for the load shedding, it would be easier for the people to be patient," he said.
Khattak said that he was not in favour of having the Pesco chief transferred.
"If an officer is not discharging his rightful duties, he should be dismissed instead of being transferred," said the K-P chief minister.
He concluded by saying that the federal government needed to collaborate with the provincial government better in the times to come, particularly for security briefings and foreign visits.
COMMENTS (21)
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@Faisal: so you are actually of the view that Karachi is not the major source of revenue for the whole of Pakistan? You are actually mistaken then! Secondly the due share of electricity has NOTHING to do with the payment of bills constitutionally or by any verbal agreement. If payment of bills is considered to such an extent why not consider who is actually producing excess electricity and feeding it in the national grid to supply Punjab and Sindh.
@fyza: "I live in Peshawar and light comes for 5 minutes and goes after 5." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thats why its called alternating current.
If KPK pays bill then they will get electricity. No free ride.
@Umer its a misconception that Federal Govt gets its major income from Sindh. These dams were constructed by american aid btw.
@Yas:
Where does federal government get its money? Most of it from Sindh, not form Punjab. So why is Punjab getting all the electricity?
To all those who keep ranting about KPK's electricity was it KPK's money to build all those electricity generation plants? They were invested by the Federal govt. so it is up to them to distribute the electricity accordingly. Don't Punjab get load shedding? Simple thing guys cut the line losses...
Faisal: Baluchistan doesn't produce that much gas, its share in total gas production is below 10%. Please update yourself.
I'm generally in favor of a united Pakistan but I can also see how it must be frustrating when Balochistan produces so much wealth from gas and is the least developed and KP produces more energy than it needs and yet has the most electrical shortages. They need to give back to those who contribute.
It's similar to what overseas Pakistanis do, they give Pakistan so much and yet are treated as second class citizens. Pakistanis overseas have no voice behind them from Pakistani government.
Justice delayed is justice denied. PTI we didnt want u to make hue and cry because the people who voted for u know how to get their right. IK left for two weeks and the party started making weird statements.
Not only the officer should be dismissed,he must be penalized financially.
@jawad: Stop posing as a PTI voter, you never voted PTI - coz as of today PTI voters are satisfied by performance of KPK govt i.e. they are moving in the right direction. The focus on education in budget, energy sector investment MoUs, health sector reforms and computerization of land & police records; all this just in 45 days. And yes KPK prodcues 3500+ MW electricity so it should get its full share. CM spoke the voice of the heart of every KPK voter who voted PTI. period.
The percentage of transmission and distribution losses of PESCO (KPK) stands at 36 %; second highest in the country. CM should focus more on the theft he can control
Federal Govt will not let KPK succeed. KPK people have to fight for their rights. Khattak is doing a great job standing for his province. Give KPK their due share. period.
The KPK Chief Minister Mr. Khattak is very right from his point of view and his vision seems to be quite clear as head of the province.
Me. Khattak is talking in plain words so that there should be no ambiguity whatsoever.
PTI's KPK Government is a role model for the rest of the provinces.
If the Federal Government does not want to provide electricity as there is no PML(N) government in KPK that is some thing else.
I have been noticing for a long time that due to political tussle between the two political parties, it is only the common man which becomes sandwich between the federal government and the government of KPK i.e. PML(N) and PTI.
@fyza: KPK does not have a "major share in power production". Not even in installed capacity.
@fyza
the real *pity * is that if these people were honest and real leaders they would have taken the people in confidence and done something SOLID instead of Statements !!! Even I can give such statements. And, our foolish public will vote ! lols.
They are having their heydays just like others !
I met a couple of PTI officials. Totally unimpressive other than the fact they had Land Cruisers and gunmen. That's all. What sort of people have been given the Ticket ? *I feel sorry for our own miserable condition that we were dodged by Imran Khan who is just another that words and acts are two different things when it comes to Politics *
Did federal government stop Mr. Khattak to NAB energy thieves?
Excuses and blames.
Mr. Khattak, we feel sorry for voting you party this time. Other than statements you guys can not /and will not do anything, just like the precedent government. I see the old faces doing the old job in the old fashioned way.Your bold statements have only been a new colour of the same lipstick that the media uses for shining their paper.
I live in Peshawar and light comes for 5 minutes and goes after 5. This continues the whole day and it has become a routine since the start of Ramadan. It's a pity the province which has a major share in power production is itself deprived of its due rights.