F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has asked the federal government to suspend all developmental projects and divert their funds to energy sector for coping with the growing electricity demand in the country.
“The centre need give top priority to national issue of energy shortage and load shedding, which can be resolved by availability of sufficient funds to the sector, said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa spokesman, Mian Iftikhar Hussain while addressing a news conference here on Tuesday.
He termed that the excessive unscheduled power outages in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as totally unjustified, which must be ended.
The welcomed the ANP move for convening an All Parties Conference (APC) on load shedding and energy issue, said that it was dire need of hour for all political forces to think beyond their politics interest and joint hand for coping with a national issue.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister informed that ANP had started efforts to bring all coalition and opposition parties in the APC. The step was basic aimed to restore the confidence of masses, and come up with a joint strategy for coping with the growing energy crisis, he maintained.
Expressing concern over the lodging cases against the enraged power protesters, he asked the authority to abstain from using of force tactics. He also urged the masses to refrain from targeting public property and government installation during their protest demonstrations.
Referring the statement of Pesco chief that the about 82 percent electricity theft in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said that it was totally wrong, however, he said that the province is one in generating electricity as compared to the rest of the country.
Giving details of electricity producing in the KP, he said the province is being generating around 3840MW out of totally consumption of 3129, whereas the totally electricity production is about 22000 MW in the country.
“We are consuming less than 711MW of the total electricity production of the KP”, he maintained. He said that around 1554 MW electricity is being supplied to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the national grid station, whereas the actual electricity shortfall is about 52 percent in the country  
Mian Iftikhar said that about 17 percent unscheduled load shedding is carrying out from the centre power control system. “Our electricity share in electricity in the national grid system is about 330 MW, despite the fact that WAPDA was used step motherly attitudea against the Khyber Pakhtunkwa, and is carrying out unscheduled load shedding”, he maintained.
He said that about 1105 MW unscheduled load shedding was being carried out in the country. “Why unscheduled load shedding is being carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, he questioned.    
Mian Iftikhar said that WAPDA control should be handed over to provinces to tackle the issues amicable. “We will not accept any unjustified and unfair unscheduled load shedding, and would strong react against it”, he warned.
He asked the federal government to suspend all development work by diverting their funds to energy sector and pay out due to oil companies to address the growing demand of energy in the country.  
He said that non-availability of furnace oil and gas to power production units were basic reason behind the growing energy demand, because of more than 50 percent production declined.  
Expressing grave concern over-billing issue and unscheduled load shedding, he said that the WAPDA monopoly must be ended. He said that the WAPDA was utmost duty to role its due role for provision of better facilities.
The provincial spokesman said that WAPDA power stations and supply lines were outdated, which was basic reason behind the growing line losses of power distribution companies.
Regarding the devolution of 17 different departments under the 18th constitutional Amendments, he said that the top bureaucrats at federal level were creating hurdles to hinder the process of devolution of education affairs to provinces. He said that the move was against the spirit of the constitutional amendments and provincial autonomy.
He also expressed grave over not handing of archaeological artifacts brought from Mingora Museum during militancy, devolving of archaeological sites, Pakistan Tourism assets in the light of 18th constitutional amendments. He also said the Pakistan Tobacco Board also intact with federal government in this regard.
When asked if the federal government not accepted their demand, he replied that all options were opened for the provincial government, even ready to tender resignation for the sack of this national issue.