The ongoing countrywide loadshedding echoed in the National Assembly on Friday when the opposition feared that power crisis could cripple the country's economy. Water and Power Minister Liaquat Jatoi faced scathing criticism from the opposition over what it said government's lethargic approach to deal with the energy crisis.
Speaking on a calling attention notice regarding frequent loadshedding, PPP Information Secretary Sherry Rehman said the government was well aware of the fact that there was a shortage of around 2000 to 2500 mega watts in the country but the government did nothing to meet the shortage.
Sherry Rehman warned the government that power crisis would further deepen in the coming months, especially in Karachi that would adversely affect the country's economy. Other opposition members also shouted that the situation was grim in Sindh province where people were suffering from long hours of loadshedding.
They were of the view that the national energy conservation plan announced by the government would not help overcoming the power crisis. Manzoor Hussain Wassan of PPP said, "the government should switch off all the illuminations it had installed at Parade Avenue for the presidential rally if it really wants people to close down shopping centers and markets at 8 pm to save electricity."
But Liaquat Jatoi played down the opposition members' concerns, saying power crisis would not impact 'flourishing' economy at all. He said the government has extended the closing time of markets for one hour, pleading for co-operation to make national energy conservation plan a success.
The minister said the government has provided electricity to 4,500 villages in the last four years whereas 19,000 tube well connections were given last year. He conceded that there was electricity shortage of 600 to 700 mega watts that could be met by conservation plan. Meanwhile, Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain also gave a loud signal that the persistent absence of treasury members has been impeding the legislative business.
"Bring the members... I go for legislation," Chaudhry reacted angrily to treasury member M.P Bhandara who held the Speaker responsible for the poor performance of House regarding legislation. Bhandara, who always expresses concerns over delay in start of the session and wastage of time on trivial issues, once again complained that the chair was allowing unnecessary debates.
He said the house should go by the rules and there should be legislation on important issues instead of issuing orders for inquiries of frauds and other matters. Later, the National Assembly also sought detailed inquiry report from Interior Ministry regarding Double Shah, a person allegedly involved in more than Rs 50 billion fraud.
The opposition members alleged that Double Shah was involved in a mega scandal of more than Rs 50 billion whereas the government has failed to recover people's money. They said it was one of the biggest scandals in the present government, demanding that inquiry reports of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federal Investigation Agency be placed before the House.
State Minister for Interior Zafar Iqbal Warraich sought some time for getting detailed report from the Punjab government. But, Speaker Amir Hussain directed him to present a detailed inquiry report of Double Shah on Tuesday (May 15).
The government also laid the annual report of Federal Public Service Commission for the year 2004 and a report of the standing committee on the bill to grant degree awarding status to Pakistan Institute of Development Economics before the House.