PM Abbasi gives KE, SSGC 15 days time to resolve issue

Intervening to resolve the load-shedding issue in Karachi, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has given K-Electric (KE) and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) 15 days time to resolve the ongoing issue.

After conducting a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) on Monday, the PM  addressed the media and assured that Karachi would have water as well as electricity.

The PM maintained that Karachi will see no load-shedding if only 100 percent of the bills are being paid, local media reported.

Dismissing any possibility of government taking over KE, the PM said that the power utility was a private company and there was not any chance of it being taken over by the government. Last week, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority hinted at taking over KE and said that it had the authority to take over if the load-shedding issue was not solved immediately.

The KE issued a press release blaming the cause of prolonged load-shedding to low gas supply from SSGC. The release stated that KE is currently receiving gas supply at approximately 90mmcfd as opposed to Economic Coordination Committee allocated 276mmcfd and below the supply levels of this time last year.

SSGC immediately replied to their claim terming the statement misleading.