Former Governor Balochistan and the Pakistan Muslim League-N leader General Abdul Qadir Baloch (Retd) on Tuesday presented a plan to resolve issue of power load shedding in Balochistan.
Addressing a news conference along with other PML-N leaders Khuda-ay Noor and Jamal Shah Kakar at the Quetta Press Club here, he said that West and South Balochistan had been suffering 20 hours long power outages due to sabotage activities and intentionally damage to high transmission line providing electricity to Sibbi Grid Station from Guddo National Grid system.
He noted that Power Plants in Balochistan were generating over 2000MW electricity while total demand of the electricity was 2000MW. He maintained that Hubco Power Plant was generating 1350MW electricity, Och Power Plant of Dera Murad Jamali 600MW, and Quetta Power Plant 170MW while some megawatt electricity was being received from Iran.
He highlighted that high transmission line supplying electricity to Sibbi grid system from Guddo national grid system was passing through "No Go Areas" of Balochistan, adding where law enforcement agencies could not enter.
The PML-N leader recalled that during last few months, thieves or culprits had stolen 74-km long wires and equipment from the high tension electricity line passing through Bakhtiarabad and other "No Go Areas". He maintained that Wapda technicians and LEAs avoid entering the areas due to security threats.
Criticising the electricity shifting system, he said that Och Power Plant of Dera Murad Jamali shifted its 600MW electricity production to Guddo national grid system, which later re-shifted it through Bakhtiarabad high transmission line to Sibbi grid station. He noted that sabotage and intentionally damage to this line had caused 20 hours power load shedding in West and South Balochistan.
The former Governor said that his party had evolved a plan to resolve power outages issue of Balochistan. He maintained that according to the plan, Och power plant's 600MW be shifted directly to Sibbi grid station instead of Guddo grid system. He said that for the purpose, the Balochistan government would have to lay another transmission line, which would cost only Rs 880 million.
He recalled that a delegation of PML-N had visited WAPDA Headquarters Lahore and Qesco Office and the officials concerned had assured them that power load shedding would be completely resolved in Balochistan within three months if the Balochistan government provided Qesco Rs 880 million for laying another transmission line.
He maintained that during his recent meeting with the Chief Secretary Balochistan Ahmed Bukhsh Lehri, the official also assured him that the issue would be taken up with the higher authorities.
He urged the Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani and Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd Gailo to mull over the suggestion presented by PML-N so that power breakdowns issue could be redressed on permanent basis as the agriculture sector of the province had suffered billions of rupees losses due to electricity power cuts.
Responding to a question, he said that following his party chief's stance, he and another PML-N Balochistan leaders condemned anti-media resolution passed in the Punjab Assembly. To another question, he said that his party condemned targeted killing in Balochistan whether hidden hands were involved in it or disgruntled local elements.
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