Express News screengrab of Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
ISLAMABAD: "The government itself is a big defaulter," stated Defence Minister Khawaja Asif during a press conference in Islamabad on Friday.
He was referring to the recent disconnections of electricity supply to top government buildings including President House, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Parliament Lodges and official residence of chief justice of Pakistan, and the non-payment of electricity bills.
Asif stated that whoever does not pay their electricity dues will not get power supply whether it's on a federal level, provincial level or an individual level.
The defence minister further said that 2,200 megawatts of electricity will be added to the system in the next two months.
Referring to the hardship that the citizens will face in the next couple of months, Asif added that the people will have to tolerate the load-shedding as there was a shortfall of electricity.
"Energy crisis is being improved because of the construction of new power projects such as the one in Guddu," the minister remarked shedding some positive light to the situation the country is currently in.
He also claimed that people who were protesting against the power outages wanted free electricity to be provided to them.
Asif further stated that because of a few electricity thieves millions of people were suffering.
COMMENTS (29)
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Stating the obvious does not absolve the Federal Government from its responsibility to pay its share to Electric Companies. Nawaz Sharif is making statement but he is not acting on his statement.
"unpaid-bills-khawaja-asif-claims-govt-itself-is-a-big-defaulter" To Issi Baat Pe Party To Party To Party To Party To Banti Hai......
Then what is the sin of the poor people who can’t pay their electricity bills of few thousands sometimes due to miserable financial conditions created by PML-N and their connections are disconnected very early and this happens only in Pakistan not any where in the world where governmental departments are defaulters and the nation is facing the consequences of defaulters’ governmental departments?????
@Raheel There is provision for getting temporary electricity by kunda (paid) @Asad Khawaja Asif is also incharge minister for Power besides being defence minister.
Those who want immediate results should note. I myself heard Imran Khan saying they will generate and provide electricity to whole Pakistan. Where is that promise?. Things take time to be implemented. There is no magic.
@all. Why the government is defaulter?. There is red tape in government working. It is matter of allocation of budget and funds for payment of utilities bills. Government should make necessary rules to make it convenient for all government entities to pay the bills in time. So it is recommended that all government power consumers must be brought on prepaid meter system.
Fact. The UPS system is a jinn consuming overhead of 2000 Mega Watts a day. you have to generate 4000 mega Watts more to undo that effect of this over burden. Charge and discharge cycle of UPS system demands that.
@all Try to love your country, forces and other institutions.
@Multani: ......it would be hard for you to show me an honest politician. That does not mean that what he said was without truth.
The rich can install Gen sets and Inverters only the poor will suffer and it is the destiny of poor to suffer may be living any where in the world.
@Parvez: This is one of biggest defaulter on loans. Loans he took and never paid back.
The Govt is the biggest defaulter and because of you Politicians the whole country is suffering. So first you tell to each others about the civilians suffering but now you are telling us directly to get ready to suffer.
Why is the defense minister commenting on power matters?
Solution lies in installing prepaid meters for Government connections as well as for the defaulters immediately.
The solution lies in installing prepaid meters immediately for Government and the defaulters.
@ Ch. Allah Daad you seems to be a student of law minister of Punjab, so much resemblance in your arguments
Or 'Harriet the Spy' in failing?. Simply force your ministers to pay bills ASAP.
@Last Word: Imran has chosen hottest month of the year to punish his supporters who did not show up on polling day.
Government is setting a better example so let's stop complaining and support it no matter who is incharge.
Democracy: Government of the People, by the People, and for the People I feel petty that YOU STILL THINK THIS IS A DEMOCRACY
Our Govt, Army, Judiciary, Election Commission each and every department AVOIDING RECOUNTING
Can you raise any building straight having WRONG FOUNDATION.
Dirty Delivery System can only produced DIRTY OUTCOME.
They will only SERVE THEIR POWER HOUSE (Their Lords) because They are not ELECTED BY VOTES.
Dear Khawaja sb you and your party are in the federal government..... PTI and PMLN should be taken to task on the hype they created during ppp tenure about corruption. Someone should ask them if there was so much corruption rampant, then why not a single case of corruption has been bought forward..
A country where the governmental institutions are defaulters can only mean that the said country is bankrupt.
The defense minister further said , ..... Haven t he said enough about defense ??
Imran Khan should sit on dharna under the Sun till full electric power is produced in Pakistan.
"People have to tolerate".. I am not a fan of PMLN but at least think about all those fancy promises you guys made to public a year ago or all was said in "Jazbaat"
This man means business!
Our very own "Alice" living in "wonderland".
No free electricity should be provided to any citizen or on any political pressure. I wish this govt changes the culture of free service..I request the people also to please pay the bill and do not steal electricity or any other public service free of charge..
...agree with what he has said.