Pakistan

Govt should take over K-Electric: Khursheed Shah

Defence minister says govt is not responsible for power shortfall in Karachi as K-Electric provides electricity there

Web Desk June 24, 2015

Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah. PHOTO: PID

ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said on Wednesday the government should take over K-Electric as the death toll from the deadly heatwave surpassed 780 in Karachi.

“The time has come for you [government] to take over K-Electric,” Shah said, while addressing the National Assembly.

"Pakistan Peoples Party will support the move," the opposition leader added, citing severe electricity cuts in the metropolis as the main reason for the deaths.

Read: No respite from heatwave: Death toll tops 700

Further, Shah said, "Deaths in Karachi due to the heat have become a national issue."

Shah alleged the K-Electric has a lot of spare electricity which it is not providing to the people. The opposition leader also stated that electricity theft should also be controlled and urged electricity consumers to pay the tariff.

Read: Two power plants of 2,100 MW to be set up in Karachi: Commerce minister

“Everyone should pay their electricity bills. And if anyone is stealing electricity, whether it’s me or some other politician, action should be taken against them,” Shah said.

Read: Opposition hold govt responsible for heatwave deaths, calls for day of mourning

Earlier on Friday, opposition parties in the National Assembly called for a day of mourning as the death toll from the deadly heatwave surpassed 500 in Karachi and lower Sindh.

“We call for a black day to mourn the deaths of those owing to the heatwave,” Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said, while speaking to the media outside Parliament.

Holding the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government responsible for the deaths, Shah said, “The government has failed to fulfill its promises to provide electricity to the people during Ramazan.”

Govt not responsible for power shortfall

Further, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif while addressing the National Assembly claimed the federal government is not responsible for the power shortfall in Karachi.

Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif. PHOTO: REUTERS

Read: To spare domestic consumers in Ramazan, industry must suffer

Lamenting deaths caused by a heatwave in the metropolis, Asif said, “K-Electric is responsible for providing electricity to Sindh and not the federal government.”

Further, Asif stated that the government is working on several projects to cope with the energy crisis and massive investment is being made in the country to improve the transmission system.

The defence minister said, “14,000 to 15,000 MW of electricity will be added to the national grid by 2018, while 1,020 MW will be added to the system during 2015-16, 4,692 MW in 2016-17 and 5,142 MW in 2018.”

“An additional 3,600 MW will also be generated through LNG.”

Further, Asif said the contract for the import of LNG with Qatar has not yet been signed but it will be below 14% of the Brent. He assured that Pakistan will import LNG at the lowest rate in Asia which will help save the country billions of rupees.

COMMENTS (29)

Cringeworthy | 8 years ago | Reply The Govt should take over K-Electric so if and when you get into power you could fill it with your jiala appointments. NO, Thanks, but thanks.

Zain | 8 years ago | Reply @ Pakistani - why you are being so dramatic? My concern was around nation building, but I reckon that word never crossed your mind. It is not an exam that I need to write everything on the subject. To put you in a perspective if you are not part of the solution you are part of the problem. I don't need an opinion on my comprehension from you; when all you do is complaint about others.

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Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply @zain: Wow....simply amazing?! Again, sit back and read the news again slowly (or work on your comprehension) specially in light of information that you did not have and hopefully you will be able to understand what is happening. If still unable, seek help from a third party.

zain | 8 years ago | Reply @ Pakistani - Yes I am unaware, but what does that have to do with my previous comment? Reiterating the same point - is attacking others the best you can do? Ignorants should not be thumping their chests just because people don't like to engage in ill mannered conversations.

Tariq Nawaz | 8 years ago | Reply The Govt should also probe Mr Khurshid Shah's who started as a clerk in Wapda about thirty years ago.Now he is a billioner many times over ??????

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply @Zain: Firstly,it seems quite clear that you are unaware of the employment history of Mr.Khurshid Shah. Secondly, as a Federal Minister of Water and Power in 2008, he was caught stealing electricity. As they say 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance'.

Selina | 8 years ago | Reply Yes don't increase electricity production that is the responsibility of the government instead make up schemes to take over a private organization thanks to which parts of the city still is supplied by electricity. I remember the days when KE was KEsc a government organization so please I'm this time of national calamity have a heart and stop staying to come up with ways of personal profitablility.

Zain | 8 years ago | Reply @ Pakistani - as if all the other ministries were given to doctorates. Shame on you and like minded who are still putting out these sarcastic comments while people are dying. Both sides are equally incompetent and bad; for start minister (Asif) does not even know how many people died, why would you expect he would care? I guess it has become very difficult for people to stay true Pakistani, which is helping and facilitating others in times of need. As silly and bad it might sound, but I believe people really don't realise the intensity of the situation unless they are victim themselves. Lets not care about Pakistan; lets keep giving insensitive words to each for these corrupt and stone hearted politicians; so they have ample time to leverage and exploit the situation, and the same supports will start humiliating them at the end of their term. Yet simple, but very difficult for us to understand.

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply The picture of Khwaja Asif shows wearing a suit and tie, certainly he was sitting an air conditioned room. Can he explain what immediate steps were taken to improve power generation when PMLN took over the reins of Pakistan. Now he promises conditions will improve by the year 2018. It will be time when PMLN will go to public begging votes.If returns in power they will promise 2013 for improvement. Please do not try to fool poor Pakistanis. What happened to solar, wind and Thar coal projects and Chashma atomic power generation. Regarding KE, who was the idiot to sign the agreement. Why Government of Sind is not asking KE to set power plants. Get rid of the PPP heads having no brains and are after making money. Why money was not spent to get gas from Iran instead of Metros and highways. Shame on you all.

ashar | 8 years ago | Reply Instead all the Karachi organizations should be privatized. KE is still better than KESC even after this crisis situation and I am sure the conditions will improve. Had KW&SB been made K Water then the outstanding bills of KE would have been paid. Had KBCA been K Building the illegal settlements and conversions of plot status would be avoided that has created a mess in the city and of course the notorious KMC is the most incompetent organization of the city and politically influenced too. they all need to be privatized.

Sam | 8 years ago | Reply Maybe army should arrest corrupt politicians too.

SHKT | 8 years ago | Reply Remember KESC? 'nuff said.

Adnan Siddiqi | 8 years ago | Reply Simple solution Mr. Leader of the Opposition, let federal government impose governor rule in Sind and all will be managed amicably where your imbecile, dysfunctional and corrupt government has failed so spectacularly. K-Electric's performance was actually worse during 2008-2013 when PPP was in power. Why didn't the federal and provisional government of Sind at that time tried to takeover the utility company then?

MASOOM | 8 years ago | Reply This is all political move by these ugly politician so that they could condemn federal govt directly! what a move when gas and corruption matters are concerned they at once say according to 18th amendment you have no right to interfere and when it comes to law and order , relief work ,electricity etc they put all blame on federal govt. for there incapability!

pervaiz | 8 years ago | Reply People did not die due to electricity shortage as much more people live in interior sind without electricity or electricity for 1-2 hours in day while temperature go up till 48C, there is no causality. people died here in Karachi due to non governance and poor water supply system, very worse conditions of hospitals, traffic jam where people stranded in traffic jam and caught by heat stroke or people were waiting at bus stops for conveyance where they were caught by heat stroke. So govt Sind should awake now, enough is enough. Please pay some attention toward water supply, law & order, Traffic system, better conveyance system, upgrade health system, Eliminate ghost schools & teachers, lats but no least, pay K electric bills on time and get uninterrupted power supply for water board to ensure sufficient water supply to citizen. Hope MR. Khurshid Shah Sahib will understand this easily.

shahid | 8 years ago | Reply @Ali S: Actually what Shah Sahab was saying is: PPP/Addi/Gadari should take over KESC.. As he thinks Addi/Gadari are the Government; ADDI/Gadari see huge money making machine and their eeman is now green color dollar bills. Of course Shah Sahab, as his original job in Sukkur was Meter Reader, (thats where he made money and became rich) also would get the crumbs falling down on the floor after the addi/gadari eat their portion.

Curious | 8 years ago | Reply But Khawaja Asif Sialkoti...........is the shareholder of KEC!

battered citizens | 8 years ago | Reply Since the provincial government of Sindh has also failed it should also be taken over by the Federal government right!!! the deaths from the deadly heatwave are a failure of the provincial governments inability to act promptly. Even now it was the rangers and army that set up camps and what dis the provincial government do, declare a "holiday". Khursheed sb recall the 18th amendment that PPP so proudly decorates its self with; "Health" is now a provincial domain. Such hollow people.!!!!

Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Put the PPP in charge of K-Electric so it can stuff yet another organisation full of politically appointed employees and destroy it like it has the steel mills and PIA. Great idea,

Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply Everyone should listen to Khurshid Shah. after all electricity is his area of expertise.

Political Analyst | 8 years ago | Reply Our national leaders should exercise caution. KE has done a remarkable job compared to state owned utility companies. Their performance can be gauged from the fact that share price of KE has increased almost 500% since privatisation thereof. They added almost 1,000 MW without any sovereign guarantee. Compared KE, with HESCO (can Khursheed Sahab shared any progress on any account). Had the government forced the shutting down of bazars for limited number of days, the gap between demand and supply would have been much better. Every one blame KE but where is governments' good governance? Ghost employees/teachers, condition of hospitals, death of children in Thar, transport issue in Karachi, water board...name one single function where government has made any improvement. Let's accept the fact that KE is a private venture they are not Edhi foundation.

Proud Pakistani | 8 years ago | Reply Simple solution for PPP problems, just hand over Sindh Govt to PML-n and then blame. As PPP and MQM have been governing Sindh for the last 15 or more years and unable to do positive. Second constructive work takes some time - lets cooporate by announcing switching off all air conditions from National and Provisional assemblies along with government offices right from today. And yes these politicians who are debating in NA will promise that they will now pay the electricity bills regularly along with their previous dues.

M | 8 years ago | Reply No one dies from lack of electricity. Stop trying to pin the blame on K-Electric when you yourself have failed to provide relief to the people of Karachi. Instead of proposing 'Day of Mournings' in the assembly, let's see you proposing of setting up kiosks and donating fluids, water and other necessary items to hospitals etc. Let us see you instruct PEMRA to shut down the mindless Ramzan gameshows and instead educate people on how to counter this freakish weather. Let us see you stop celebrating Birthday's in Garhi Khuda Baksh and instead donate that money to relief activities. Although I too have suffered from the hand's of K-Electric, but it is by far the best electricity provider in the country. Can anyone ask how other DISCO's are doing in the rest of the country. Pathetic bunch of goons these politicians; only doing lip service to satisfy the masses.

nutter | 8 years ago | Reply Ye sure. Electricity pool will be beefed up only near the next elections so that you could thump your chests and claim votes. What a selfish breed of decision makers. And what a lazy nation. We get what we deserve afterall.

Mahmood | 8 years ago | Reply Wow - the government will do anything to resist showing any sense of responsibility or ownership

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply ........and who will pay the penalty ? Money was made in the sale, terms must have been set so that if government demanded its return heavy penalties would make the share holders of the parent company of K-Electric even richer........no wonder PPP is calling for its return. When will our politicians ever think about the people and the country ?

LOL | 8 years ago | Reply Yes blame all on KE and save your self. Why no emergencey cells were created? Why emergency was not called in at hospitals? Just blaming KE is not enough. Problem is people like you and our Sleepyhead CM should leave and let some educated people take ur position to show you potatoheads how things can be done.

Ali S | 8 years ago | Reply No! For God's sake no! KE despite its faults and overburdening is at least attempting to do a decent job in Karachi. Nothing can be worse than PPP - they just want to cash in. A monkey can do a better job than PPP. I'm from a middle-class area in Karachi and though we've had power issues the whole day KE teams were working through sehri to fix it - at least they're putting in the effort.

SK | 8 years ago | Reply If you are pushing to nationalize KE, should we infer that Addi has taken her share out of KE now and if you are talking about arresting non-payees of bills to be arrested then should we assume that you have now gotten KE meter installed at your home

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