The Balochistan Provincial Assembly adopted a resolution demanding restoration of subsidy on electricity bills of Balochistan farmers, expediting work on laying the Dadu-Khuzdar and Dera Ghazi Khan-Loralai power transmission lines and increase in the electricity supply from national grids to Balochistan to end the power load shedding in the province.
During Saturday's proceedings, chaired by Speaker Mohammad Aslam Bhootani, power load shedding came under strong criticism from the Balochistan MPAs, particularly the cabinet ministers. Speaking on the adjournment motion tabled by the PML-Q MPA Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, members strongly criticised the prolonged power load shedding in parts of Balochistan, saying that power outages have destroyed the agriculture sector of the province.
Minister for Communication and Works Sadiq Umrani said that about 90 percent population of Balochistan is connected with agriculture, and added that power outages have badly damaged the economy of the province. Minister for Inter-Provincial Co-ordination Ruqayya Saeed Hashmi expressed concern over the issue and suggested that alternative means of power should be adopted.
The legislators must be informed about the status of Alternative Energy Board, which has recently been constituted to overcome the electricity shortage crisis. Ainullah Shams, Health Minister, endorsed Hashmi's suggestion and said that Balochistan is enriched in natural resources and the coal being extracted from Chamalang, Dukki and Mach regions of the province could be used for power production.
Minister for Industries and Commerce Ahsan Shah said that power production plants, including Och, Hubco and Habibullah are producing more electricity than Balochistan's requirement, adding appropriate measures could resolve the issue effectively.
He deplored that Makran division, which receives 35 MW from Iran, was suffering hard due to power load shedding, and demanded of the federal government to ink an agreement with the Iranian government as it is ready to provide more 35 MW electricity in the region of Makran division. The Speaker said that Chief Minister has taken up the issue with the Prime Minister, and would be resolved soon.
Ministers Habibur Rehman Muhammad Hasni, Shahnawaz Marri, Fauzia Marri, Asim Kurd Gailu, Abdul Khaliq Achakzai and Basant Lal Gulshan also criticised the long hours of power load shedding in the province, saying that it has "paralysed" the agricultural sector. They demanded immediate end to the prolonged load shedding.
They added that long hours of load shedding were inflicting irreparable loss both on the growers and domestic consumers, adding the federal government should develop alternative sources for power production. They opined that the government should install coal-run power plants, which would not only produce cheap electricity but coal is also in abundance in various parts of Balochistan.
They stressed that producing power through alternative sources of wind energy could yield results in six months and could minimise the power shortfall in the province.
Irrigation and Power Minister Aslam Bizenjo said that Qesco should not be blamed for all wrongs. "It would be unfair if we don't acknowledge that Qesco has completed almost 90 percent work on Kuwait-funded project". He demanded of the federal government to help Balochistan government in early completion of work on carrying out transmission line project of the Dadu-Khuzdar and Dera Ghazi Khan-Loralai.
Besides an alternative transmission line from Och power plant to Sibi be laid so that any subversive activity could not affect the power supply to Quetta and other parts of Balochistan. The house approved the adjournment motion, as resolution, unanimously. Later, the chair prorogued the session.
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