QUETTA (6AM Report): The caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki has directed the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) to restore electricity of the approved legal tube wells of the agriculture sector by today (Friday) so that the farmers and growers may not suffer any agriculture loss right during the peak season due to the power suspension.
The Chief Minister formed a sub-committee headed by the Secretary Energy department and Commissioner Quetta for preparing viable suggestions for payment of the arrears between the QESCO and agriculturists, installation of meters and taking action against the illegal tube wells.
The Chief Minister was chairing an emergent meeting of the QESCO, Finance department and administrative officers here at the CM’s secretariat on Thursday.
Also present in the meeting were the caretaker Provincial Minister Information, Jan Achakzai, Chief Executive Officer QESCO, Abdul Karim Jamali, Secretary Finance, Zahid Saleem, Commissioner Quetta, Muhammad Hamza Shafqat and other concerned high ups.
While briefing the meeting, the QESCO CEO informed that QESCO’s 437 billion of rupees are outstanding against agriculture consumers in the province. moreover, Rs. 32 billion are outstanding against the private consumers, as a result the QESCO is facing severe financial crunch, he added.
He informed that operation is being started for payment of arrears and suspension of illegal power connections in the “B” areas of province.
For the purpose, the Home department has been written a letter to provide services of FC, adding he mentioned.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister said that the power suspension would cause destruction and heavy loss to the agriculture sector, therefore, QESCO should ensure restoration of power by Friday.
He also directed to take concrete steps for prevention of power theft as well as payment of the QESCO arrears in the province.
Earlier, the caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Ali Mardan Domki has stated that we realize the electricity-related issues being faced by the zamindars in the province, and adding assured that urgent solution would be found out for their solution by taking to the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO).
The Chief Minister also summoned the Chief Executive Officer of QESCO on the issues of electricity.
He was in meeting with a delegation of Balochistan Zamindar Action Committee (BZAC), who called on him under leadership of its chairman and former Member Provincial Assembly, Malik Naseer Ahmed Shahwani, here at the CM’s secretariat on Thursday morning.
Mr. Domki said that zamindars can face heavy losses due to the suspension of electricity during season, and as such we want to save the agriculture sector from destruction and losses.
He assured that the emergent solution to the issue of electricity would be found out by talking with the QESCO.
He also said that it is his utmost endeavour to save the zamindars by restoring electricity at the earliest.
He mentioned that the caretaker Provincial Minister Information Jan Achakzai and Zamindar Action Committee would remain in close coordination on the issue.
Leave a Reply