APC on August 9: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government seeks resolution of energy crisis

After growing anger and protest of masses against the excessive unscheduled power outages in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government on Monday announced to call All Parties conference (APC) on loadshedding and energy crisis on 9th August, in the province.
"Despite the huge share in centre power production system, the 18 hours long unannounced loadshedding is being carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is totally unjust with people of the province, said ANP provincial President, Afrasiab Khattak while announcing to call a APC on loadshedding and energy crisis in the province here at Peshawar Press Club.
Flanked by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Minister for Education, Sardar Hussain Babak, the ANP Party women MPAs, and activists, Afrasiab Khattak said that Wapda had totally failed to manage the situation amid growing electricity shortfall in the county.
ANP Provincial President said that he has always taken up issues to give autonomy to provinces in exploitation of energy and gas resources. "It was totally against the spirit of 18th constitutional amendments and federation to carry out unjustified loadshedding in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he lamented. "We would support peaceful power protesters as the unprecedented power outages totally unbearable and acceptable to them", he opined.
Sharing the figure of electricity production in different power production units in KP, he informed that Tarbela dam has the capacity to produce around 3487 MW electricity, followed by Warsak 240MW, Malakand III 81 MW, Dargai 30 MW, Kurram Tangi 4.8 MW, Sish 2 MW. He said Ghazi Braotha is also producing more than 2400 MW electricity through utilising water of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Afrasiab Khattak said that the constitution had clearly defined that the areas were first right on their resources, then other parts of the country. "We want political solution of the issue, he said, adding therefore we are going to hold APC, aimed to devise a joint strategy with all political parties at provincial level to cope with the energy issue and against the unprecedented loadshedding. He further said that the ANP high delegation will hold meeting with leaders of different political and liberal parties to design a holistic plan to address with the growing electricity issue.