MQM seeks end to loadshedding

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Saturday asked the government to resolve the issue of loadshedding on a priority basis. Raising a point of order, Dr Farooq Sattar, deputy parliamentary leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) drew the attention of the house towards chaotic conditions in Rawalpindi on Friday due to prolonged loadshedding.
He said that loadshedding was a national crisis which needed to be resolved on a priority basis. He said that "here we are debating on cut motions regarding demands for grants while the situation is very critical in Karachi and other big cities due to power outages." He said that miscreants were targeting the lines, towers and other electricity installations.
He said that situation was still tense due to a rift between KESC administration and its employees. He said his party had assured unconditional support to resolve the issue and a committee was also formed on the Prime Minister''s directives and decisions were taken during the meeting but these were not implemented. He said that 4000 employees of KESC were staging sit-in and a new record of loadshedding has been set.
He said that due to prolonged load shedding industrial wheel has come to halt. He said that desired goals could not be achieved until the targets are set. He called for setting up a committee to resolve the issues between KESC and the employees. He said there was a dire need to pay immediate heed to power outage.
Responding to the point of order, Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar said that it would have been better if the issue was raised in the Cabinet meeting. He said Prime Minister has not only taken notice of the Karachi situation but also held meetings to resolve the issue. He said it was protracted issue, adding it would take some time to get resolved. He observed that involvement of political parties could further complicate the issue and asked them to refrain from politicising it. He said that Sindh government was providing protection where it was required. He said efforts were underway to resolve KESC employees'' issue.
Responding to a call attention notice moved by Syed Zafar Ali Shah and others, he said that the government and the private sector have launched a number of programmes to provide solar energy to the domestic consumers living in remote areas of the country.
He said that under the Alternative Energy Development Board solar energy has been extended to Thar and certain areas of Balochistan. He said that a non-governmental organisation was providing solar electricity to 1500 homes at Noshki and Dalbadin. He however said that the solar energy was only feasible in the areas which were off grid and where the transmission lines could not be extended.