Govt does not emphasize on saving electricity: Kh Asif
Sindh has paid Rs27 bn to federation.
(Dunya News) - Disgruntled Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif, during an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), lamented that no attention was paid either by public or government on saving electricity; rather focus was on inauguration of new power plants on routine basis.
“I emphasized on saving electricity but nobody cared. We (ruling party) want public to know regularly that a new plant is being inaugurated”, minister added.
Asif termed loss of electricity a key reason behind soaring power cuts.
“Around 3000MW to 4000MW of electricity would be saved if public uses electricity in a rightful manner instead of squandering it. Unfortunately, no attention is paid to this issue,” asserted Asif.
Asif reiterated that load-shedding would be uprooted in the current year but warned that it would continue in electricity-theft areas and disclosed that 20-hour load-shedding was practiced in areas where 90pc residents did not pay electric bills.
On a question about debt recoveries, Asif responded that ministry had collected Rs27 billion from Sindh whereas there existed no issue with Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) in this regard.
“However, issue of debt recovery exists with Balochistan,” articulated Asif.
Asif apprised that ruling party had paid Rs480 billion in terms of circular debts but it had soared to Rs360 billion once again.
Federal minister labelled ‘unrealistic tariff and lesser subsidy’ reasons behind existing circular debts.
