101 feeders facing 90 percent loss, National Assembly told

Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that as many as 101 feeders across the country are facing more than 90 percent loss, and those who are protesting against load shedding steal electricity.
"We are supplying 100 percent electricity to the industries due to 100 percent recovery. Pakistan is the only country where people who steal electricity are protesting against load shedding. There is more load shedding in those areas where the loss of the feeders is more than 90 percent or maximum power theft," the Minister told the National Assembly during a question-hour session on Monday.
Answering a question, the Minister said, "media is showing the protest of those people who steal electricity but does not show the feeder loss and receivables from the area."
He said, "the owners of plants and shopkeepers of Bara Kahu Islamabad who steal electricity shot dead two officials of WAPDA when they came to the area for an inspection. We have removed connections of shop and plants in that particular area," he added. He said that as many as 12,000 tube wells are operating in Balochistan without electric meters. Answering another question, the Minister said a number of steps have been taken for an uninterrupted supply of electricity in the coming summer season. He said the government has taken a strict action to stop electricity theft and the areas where the practice of theft is underway have been de-electrified. He said those miscreants who attacked the installations of Wapda will not be spared at any cost.
Earlier, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said 2,000 MW of electricity would be added to the national grid within the next two months. He said the government has initiated various projects including thermal, hydle, coal, wind, solar and bagasse to overcome the electricity shortfall in the country. Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony Pir Aminul Hasnat told the House that the government was taking solid steps to address the issues concerning the madressa reforms.
He said that work is under way to bring reforms in the curriculum of seminaries by developing a consensus among representatives of Wafaqul Madaris. Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services, Regulations and Co-ordination Dr Darshan told the house that the Prime Minister has approved a summary worth 9.1 billion rupees for Prime Minister's National Health Insurance Programme and the scheme will be launched soon. He said under the scheme population below poverty line will be covered in a phased-wise manner all over the country. The provincial governments will provide a premium for secondary healthcare for hospital admissions.