PESHAWAR - Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that there is huge gap in supply and demand of electricity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and giving of control over it will also prove a milestone in the development of the province and promotion of national solidarity.
He was talking to a delegation of Khidmatgar Qaumi Jirga which called on him under the leadership of PTI MPA from PK-7 Mehmood Jan at CM Secretariat Peshawar. The delegation briefed him over some problems of the area in which the outstanding electricity bills of the affectees of Warsak Dam was on the top. The delegation was also comprised of former provincial minister Hafiz Hashmat Khan, Arbab Shehryar Khan and Arbab Shumaz.
The chief minister told the delegation that for this purpose he had already written letters to both Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Water & Power and he is awaiting their reply. He said that they are expecting good from Centre. However, he urged the people to take care in the use of electricity during the prevailing energy crisis and extend full cooperation to WAPDA in arresting power pilferage. The chief minister said that Warsak Dam is supplying a good chunk of power for national grid, therefore, he said the redressal of the grievances of its affectees is necessary to the same extent to fulfil the requirements of justice. Regarding the proposals of the members of delegation for recovery of outstanding arrears in head of electricity bills, the chief minister said that in this connection he would talk to PESCO authorities and would make all-out efforts for the resolution of this longstanding problem.
Earlier, the delegation told the chief minister that people of Warsak Dam affected areas have not installed meters. However, they said that if they were given relaxation in heavy power bills and their linkage with royalty then they are not only ready for the installation of electricity meters but will also pay their bills on regular basis.
Meanwhile, ministers and legislators of Abbottabad called on the chief minister under the leadership of MNA Dr Azhar Jadoon and discussed with him the initiating of development schemes and some problems faced by the people of the district. The delegation also comprised of Provincial Food Minister Qalandar Lodhi, Advisor Mushtaq Jadoon, Chairman DDAC Sardar Idrees, former Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Sardar Mohammad Yaqub, ex-MPA, Nisar Safdar and Ali Khan Jadoon, son of former provincial minister Amanullah Khan Jadoon. The chief minister expressed happiness that Ali Khan Jadoon along with thousands of associates is anxious to join PTI after impressing from the reforms agenda and giving practical shape to the pledges of change.
He also accepted invitation to visit Abbottabad and said that very soon he would be among them.
Pervez Khattak said that their party hates the politics of hypocrisy and their leader Imran Khan wanted the elimination of the politics of lying and hypocrisy and they would achieve this goal practically. He assured all possible redressal of the problems presented by the delegation and made it clear that they instead of mere announcements believe in practical steps and will never make any such announcement which they would not give practical shape.