A delegation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) comprising MNAs and MPAs visited the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) Power House, Elander Road. The delegation held comprehensive discussions with KESC Managing Director Brigadier Tariq Saddozai and senior chief engineers regarding current power shortages, overloading of the transmission and distribution network, power breakdowns and remedial measures to reduce difficulties being faced by the people, a KESC spokesman said here on Friday.
The MQM delegation besides others comprised of Kunwar Naveed Jameel, MQM Deputy Parliamentary Leader in Sindh Assembly and member Rabita Committee, MNAs Nisar Panwar, Iqbal Mohammad Ali and MPA Syed Shakir Ali.
The delegation explained that they were visiting KESC on a fact-finding mission as public representatives and to present public complaints regarding power breakdowns.
The KESC MD explained the representatives that the corporation was facing power shortage. The demand is 2,175MW, while KESC's own generation is 1,300MW and the two IPPs provide 250MW. The total power available in the city is 1,550MW leaving a shortfall of 625MW, which is being covered from Wapda.
He said the two Jamshoro circuits are very old and could not fulfil the entire shortage.
He said that this shortage could only be overcome as soon as the Hubco-KESC link-up is ready through which 1,000MW electricity would be available for supply to the city by April 2006.
Work on the transmission lines is also being carried out speedily. Work on extra high-tension line carrying electricity to Liaquatabad would complete by June 28 and the area would start getting stable power supply.
The MQM delegation suggested that the KESC should arrange scheduled loadshedding and announce it in advance. They were informed that the present power load situation was such that scheduled loadshedding was not possible because the quantum of power shortages vary at different timings and the power generating machines were working on maximum capacity round-the-clock.
The MQM parliamentarians agreed to approach the government for arranging more power stations for the city and regular meetings with the KESC engineers for finding ways for improving the power supply situation.
The meeting also decided that the KESC should approach industrial associations and request them for staggering holidays for minimising the industrial power load so that the residential and commercial areas may be served better with fewer power cuts.-PR