Lack of grid puts 2500 megawatts projects dysfunctional, CM tells PA

Sindh chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has told the Sindh Assembly on Tuesday that some power projects aimed at 2500 megawatt electricity stand dysfunctional due to lack of grid that is essential to receive the power transmission. Expressing his views on electricity crisis on a private members' day, he asked the federal government to ensure the grid as per its promise.
Shah said that his PPP-led Sindh government was fully aware of the electricity needs in the province and was keenly working on alternative energy projects to cope with the every growing crisis.
"Our government has electrified two villages bordering with India with solar power under the model project. Scores of solar power projects are under way," he told the legislators. He said the alternative energy was worthier for the farming sector.
He expected that the 650 megawatts of wind-generated electricity would soon be released to the national grid, while the government would complete some power project of 350 megawatts shortly.
Meantime, Sindh Senior Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Nisar Khuhro warned the federal government of negative implications of the hike in fuel oil prices. He objected to the move, urging that the rulers should stay away from inflicting atrocities on poor people. Commenting on the resolution tabled by MQM's Kamran Akhtar regarding the increase in petroleum products, Khuhro said that "if we all get united then the federal government will have no place to govern the nation".
The house also adopted two private bills: first proposed by PML-F's woman legislator, Mehtab Akbar Rashidi to ban the physical punishment of students in schools and the second by PPP's Ghazala Siyal on setting up a private university in the province.
Nisar Khuhro, who also serves as Sindh Food Minister, told the legislators during questions and answers session that the government had notified Rs 1300 as wheat support price for this year. He said that the government had set up some 442 wheat procurement centres in different parts of the province. The assembly will resume session on Wednesday morning.