Senate informed: Govt taking all out steps to overcome energy crisis

ZULFIQAR AHMAD

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar on Thursday informed Senate that the government was trying its level best to overcome power shortage and soon it would be in a position where there will be no unscheduled load-shedding in the country.

Speaking during question hour in Senate, the minister said that there was no proposal under consideration of the government to waive-off all surcharge, being received from consumers on electricity bills.

To a question, he said the television fee was being charged from each residential and commercial electricity consumer having a television set except mosques and charitable organisations, adding that no central excise duty was being charged on television fee.

He said that at the start of each cropping season, Indus River System Authority's advisory committee decided the equitable distribution of water among the provinces according to the policies spelt out in Water Apportionment Accord, 1991. He said that there was a need to develop infrastructure in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan for full utilisation of irrigation water according to their share.

The minister acknowledged that according to preliminary inquiry, it has been established that Pakistan side reacted in a belated manner while responding to the issue of construction of water reservoirs by India over the rivers meant for Pakistan under the Indus Basin Treaty. He said that the inquiry was underway and those found guilty of neglect would be taken to task.

Replying to another question, Qamar told the House that the up-gradation of National Power Control Centre was expected to be completed next month. On completion of the project, he added, the centre will be able to efficiently control and monitor the National Transmission and Despatch Company's 500/220 KV transmission network and power plants.

PROCEEDINGS

Speaking on a point of order Awami National Party (ANP) Senator Afrasiab Khattak said that privatisation of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) had made the situation horrible.

The company has recently laid-off some 500 employees, he said, adding that the termination of such a huge number of employees has opened the doors of new crisis. He demanded of the government to resolve the issue of KESC so that the people could take a sigh of relief.

The ANP senators also staged a token walkout, which was also joined by PPP stalwart Senator Raza Rabbani - a severe critic of KESC privatisation, against government failure to resolve to lingering dispute between KESC employees and the management.  Chairman Senate Dr Farooq H Naek directed the concerned minister to take notice of the issue and inform the House within three days.

Senators from Balochistan came down hard on the federal government for becoming a silent spectator regarding the rampant increase in kidnapping for ransom in the restive province. Abdul Rahim Mandokhel said all government ministers in Balochistan have their private gang of criminals, who are involved in kidnapping of people for ransom.

Wali Muhammad Badini said that the situation has become so aggravated that even the media hardly carries the stories pertaining to kidnapping in the province, for reasons best known to them.

He said the government wilfully neglects the province, saying that the security is a provincial subject, which is not acceptable. The Chairman Senate directed the concerned committee to look into the matter and report to the House next week.

The session was adjourned to meet again on Friday at 10:00am.