Pakistan

Sindh govt responsible for heatwave deaths in Karachi, says Khawaja Asif

Water and power minister says govt will end load-shedding by 2017

Zahid Gishkori June 25, 2015

minister for water amp power khawaja asif photo muhammad azeem

Minister for Water & Power Khawaja Asif. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD AZEEM

ISLAMABAD: Water and Power Minister Khawaja Asif held the Sindh government responsible for the deaths of almost 1,000 people as a result of an unprecedented heatwave in Karachi.

“The basic responsibility of the Karachi deaths is of Sindh government. In Karachi, 70% of the casualties were labourers who lost their lives during the heat wave,” the minister said while addressing a session of the National Assembly.

Read: Pointing fingers: Minister blames federal govt for not resolving power crisis

“It is a huge tragedy,” he said, adding that he has directed the National Electric & Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) take notice and submit an inquiry report over the incident.

Asif stated that due to climate change, the intensity of heat was increasing. He also stated that power load-shedding started from the first of Ramazan and added that the government was trying to tackle the issue.

Replying to the opposition’s criticism regarding the unavailability of graves in Karachi graveyards the other day, the minister remarked that the shortage of land in the graveyards was due to the illegal housing colonies being built on graveyards’ land.

Read: Fatal heatwave: Karachi running out of space for the dead

“If the living indulges in china-cutting, how will the dead find any space in graveyards?” questioned the minister.

He went on to suggest the Sindh government allocate land for new graveyards.

Asif, who is also the defence minister, claimed the power load-shedding would end by 2017.

Newly-installed power plants will enable the government to overcome the on-going power cuts by 2017, he told the lower hourse.

"Our government will feel pride by overcoming this chronic problem," he said, adding there are 16% land losses in the power sector.

Read: Failure to act: PTI demands resignation of water and power ministers

Meanwhile, Chief Whip of the PML-N in the National Assembly Sheikh Aftab moved a motion on the deaths of innocent people due to the heatweave in Karachi.

The debate on this issue will continue in next session as Deputy Speaker Javed Abbasi prorogued the session for an indefinite time period.

COMMENTS (1)

Hasan Askari | 9 years ago | Reply Let me understand this Federal government is responsible for improving law and order in Karachi Sindh government is responsible for anything bad in Karachi If there is a calamity then do we say that okay we did our part and it is not out problem anymore? Or do we do extra and impose emergency measure? Instead of claiming we supplied 650 watts and its the end, federal government should have done every possible measure to supply power, water and their ministers should have been in Karachi to talk to KE, water department and hold Sindh government responsible Imran was on honeymoon in UK (dont know what number was this) and as soon as he saw that MQM is on the ground and doing work his darbaris told him to come back and do a stunt These people are not interested in the city. They need the money which they are using in their own cities to build metro.

Replying to X