Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah has cautioned the federal government that he would block proceedings of CCI and NEC meetings next week if SSGC-KE dispute is not resolved immediately. The Provincial Chief Executive sent this warning to the Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in a fresh letter, a copy of which is available with Business Recorder.
"I am compelled to write to you yet again on this subject, as after two previous letters and numerous phone calls, the people of Sindh, particularly of Karachi, continue to cruelly be deprived of electricity. The only losers in the on going blame game between K-Electric and SSGC are the residents of Pakistan's largest city," he said.
Chief Minister who is supposedly responsible to pay the bills of KW&SB as Chief Executive of the provinces emphasized again that the responsibility of resolving this issue lies with the Government of Pakistan (GoP), as it owns over 70% of SSGC and almost 25% of K-Electric. Both the regulators ie NEPRA and OGRA are also federal entities.
According to him, Implementation Agreement (IA) was signed between private party and GoP for privatization of Karachi Electric KE, Sindh Government was kept away and was not a party to said agreement. Through that agreement, GoP guaranteed the payment of all outstanding liabilities payable to KE including those of Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KW&SB). While, Government of Sindh is paying the current dues of KW&SB on time, the payment of liabilities remains the responsibility of GOP as per contractual arrangements.
" The apathy and indifference being demonstrated by Government of Pakistan in resolving this issue is not only adding to the miseries of the people of Karachi but is also turning it into a law and order problem as various political parties and civil society organizations have threatened to agitate on the streets on this issue. It is apprehended that vested interests may take advantage of this situation by resorting to violence, thus threatening the peace in Karachi, which has been achieved through intense efforts of both the governments and through great sacrifices of our law enforcement agencies," he added.
Murad Ali Shah further stated that it is not only Karachi that is suffering due to indifference of GOP, but also other areas of Sindh, which are experiencing electricity outages for an average of 16 hours a day and in some places up to 20 hours a day due to poor performance of HESCO and SEPCO. This is an appalling failure of the government machinery.
"It seems that the PML-N Government has decided to target the people of Sindh for categorically rejecting it in the polls. However, we cannot act as a silent spectator to this situation. The people of Sindh are citizens of Pakistan and enjoy equal rights and consideration under the constitution. The citizens of this province are not ready to tolerate GoP's blatant discrimination anymore," he continued.
Chief Minister has threatened that if this reminder also fails to wake up the federal government to the plight of people of Sindh and fails to bring an urgent remedial response from it, "I will raise the issue strongly in the CCI and NEC meeting scheduled next week and will not participate in discussion on any other agenda item unless a decision is made on this issue to the satisfaction of the justified demand of people of Sindh."
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