Flanked by Pesco chief and other high officials, he said the construction work on four power grid stations of 220KV in Manshera, DI Khan, and Chakdara, had initiated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, he said provincial government was yet not acquired land for Nowshera grid station to execute the project.
He said the federal government had committed to timely complete power projects in KP, but the provincial government was creating hurdle to end the electricity crisis in the province. Of the total 963 feeders, 224 were running over 80 percent line losses in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, due to which company was compiled on forced loadshedding from 18 to 20 hours, the minister said. While, he added there was no forced electricity loadshedding on more than 415 feeders.
Despite the fact, Abid Sher Ali said the capacity of Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) had doubled with up-gradation of power distribution and transmission line system.
The minister said the federal government is fully committed of its promises to eliminate loadshedding of electricity up to 2018. He said that as the result of hectic efforts, the power production has been increased from 13500 to 17000 mega watts while in March 2018 another 8000 to 10000 mega watts of electricity will be added into the system which will be sufficient to meet the country's needs.
"The government is working on generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to achieve zero loadshedding and is spending billion of dollars for the upgradation of transmission system," he added.
He said that during previous governments, there was 14 to 16 hours loadshedding which had crippled the life of common man. "The present government is committed to generate adequate electricity on affordable rates. All of the government's policies, initiatives and developments are aimed at eliminating load shedding in order to facilitate a comfortable lifestyle for the people and uninterrupted progress of the industrial sector in the country," he added.
The minister clarified that the electricity supply should only be ensured those areas, wherein the line losses of Discos would be recorded at minimum level. He said that due to sincere and hectic efforts of the government, the generating capacity of electricity is continuously increasing and the duration of load shedding has also decreased gradually. He said the industry is already exempted from loadshedding.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017