FATA load-shedding: CJ seeks responses
Senator Rehman had registered a complaint through the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Senator Rehman had registered a complaint through the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday took notice of the 22-hour load-shedding per day in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The chief justice sought replies from the managing director of National Transmission and Dispatch Company and will hear the case along with the ongoing case on energy crisis, upon the request of Fata Senator Hilalur Rehman.
Senator Rehman had registered a complaint through the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In his application, the Fata senator said that as a resident of Mohmand Agency, and during the ongoing month of Ramzan, residents of his area had to face acute load shedding of up to 18-20 hours every day. He also said that the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) was not supplying the region’s due share of electricity.
“The Tribal Electricity Supply Company (Tesco) represents Fata, and National Power Construction Corporation (NPCC) distributes electricity through both Tesco and Pesco,” the application stated, adding that Pesco received 15% electricity from the NPCC and Fata’s share in it was just 3%. According to the complainant, even if the 3% electricity allocated to Fata is provided justly, the region wouldn’t have to face the brunt of load shedding.
“Tesco’s quota is 307 megawatts, but we are getting less than 160 megawatts only for Fata,” the complainant said, requesting the SC to direct PESCO authorities to normalise Fata’s electric supply.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2013.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Monday took notice of the 22-hour load-shedding per day in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). The chief justice sought replies from the managing director of National Transmission and Dispatch Company and will hear the case along with the ongoing case on energy crisis, upon the request of Fata Senator Hilalur Rehman.
Senator Rehman had registered a complaint through the Human Rights Cell of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In his application, the Fata senator said that as a resident of Mohmand Agency, and during the ongoing month of Ramzan, residents of his area had to face acute load shedding of up to 18-20 hours every day. He also said that the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) was not supplying the region’s due share of electricity.
“The Tribal Electricity Supply Company (Tesco) represents Fata, and National Power Construction Corporation (NPCC) distributes electricity through both Tesco and Pesco,” the application stated, adding that Pesco received 15% electricity from the NPCC and Fata’s share in it was just 3%. According to the complainant, even if the 3% electricity allocated to Fata is provided justly, the region wouldn’t have to face the brunt of load shedding.
“Tesco’s quota is 307 megawatts, but we are getting less than 160 megawatts only for Fata,” the complainant said, requesting the SC to direct PESCO authorities to normalise Fata’s electric supply.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2013.