MULTAN-State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali said on Monday that the government had decided to tackle the electricity pilferage on war-footings and indiscriminate action will be launched to eliminate the menace.
Talking to the journalists here at Mepco Headquarters, he added that the Prime Minister had expressed his displeasure over the prevalence of kunda culture and loadshedding during a recent meeting and issued order for their elimination as soon as possible. He said that the issue of loadshedding had been politicised by some quarters, adding that the government was striving hard to end power shortage. He said that he would lodge a complaint with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif against Punjab Minister for Industries Ch Shafiq for supporting power pilferers. He said that he did not call Sindhis or Pakhtuns power thieves rather he called a thief a thief.
He disclosed that funds worth over Rs25 billion had been released by the government for Diamir Bhasha Dam. He told the journalists that the project would generate 4,500 megawatt electricity.
Answering a question, he said that the Tsunami of Imran Khan had vanished and he had sympathies with the PTI chief. He added that Imran Khan might be a leader on Social Media, adding that the way he accused judiciary, media and others indicated that he needed treatment. He said that the PTI completely failed to deliver in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a result of which a forward block emerged in it.
Earlier, he suspended XEN Cantt Saifullah and SE Shahid Hameed Chohan on charges of negligence and issued order for inquiry against them.
He said that a new strategy had been evolved to control power theft and the government was confident that it would help control power theft considerably. He declared that the feeders with high losses would have to face 14-hour loadshedding while those declining to pay their bills would not get electricity.
He told the journalists that the share of fertilizer sector's gas was being given to power sector for electricity generation. He said that all recruitments would be made on merit and black sheep would be thrown out of ranks. He requested judiciary not to give stay orders to those who had been terminated on corruption. He declared that he would come back to Multan on May 26.
He said that work was underway on a number of projects including Diamir Bhasha, Kohala, Karot and Tarbela extension, and Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park which would generate 10,000 megawatt electricity.