Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi on Monday expressed serious concern over unannounced power outages, low voltage, delays in electricity schemes, and the difficulties being faced by consumers, directing the authorities concerned to clear all pending electricity-related cases on a priority basis.
Chief Minister expresses concern over unannounced load-shedding
PESHAWAR, Jul 13 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi on Monday expressed serious concern over unannounced power outages, low voltage, delays in electricity schemes, and the difficulties being faced by consumers, directing the authorities concerned to clear all pending electricity-related cases on a priority basis.
Chairing a meeting on power supply and energy-related issues, the Chief Minister reviewed the performance of electricity distribution companies and the progress of ongoing power projects. Provincial Minister for Energy Nazir Abbasi, Members of the National Assembly Arbab Sher Ali and Shandana Gulzar Khan, MPA Akbar Ayub Khan, and senior officials of the Energy Department, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), Tribal Electric Supply Company (TESCO), and Hazara Electric Supply Company (HAZECO) attended the meeting.
The meeting was informed that 1,638 electricity-related cases were pending with the power distribution companies. The Chief Minister directed PESCO, TESCO, and HAZECO to dispose of all pending cases without delay, emphasizing that decisions should be based on public interest, merit, and fairness.
Expressing concern over delays in the supply of poles, transformers, and other electrical equipment despite the release of funds, he said such delays after receiving payments from government departments amounted to a waste of public resources.
The Chief Minister directed the authorities to complete and operationalize all ongoing electricity schemes by September in the hottest areas and by December in the remaining parts of the province.
He warned that if procurement delays despite the availability of funds resulted in cost overruns, the concerned department would be held responsible for the additional financial burden.
He said administrative delays should not deprive people of electricity connections, adding that despite generating nearly twice its electricity requirements, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continued to face discrimination in power distribution.
The Chief Minister said consumers across the province were suffering from prolonged load-shedding and low voltage, while the federal government had yet to fulfill the province’s constitutional and financial obligations. He said billions of rupees in net hydel profit were still outstanding against the federal government.
He added that although Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produced surplus natural gas for the federation, CNG stations in the province remained closed, urging the federal government to address weaknesses in its energy system instead of passing the burden on to the public.
