ISLAMABAD: Standing Committee on Water and Power has directed Balochistan government to shell out 40% of it’s arrears to Quetta Electricity Supply Company (QESCO) immediately.Committee held its meeting on Tuesday chaired by Senator Lashkari Raisani to seek out briefing from WAPDA on electricity supply in Balochistan.QESCO informed committee that Balochistan has to clear it’s arrears worth Rs. 10 billion, which includes Rs. 6 billion in subsidy grounds. Committee directed Balochistan government to clear 40% of the dues immediately, whereas committee will reconsider regarding the remaining dues in a month’s time.
In response, Chief Secretary Balochistan Ahmed Bux Lehri said that bills sent by QESCO are incorrect, whereas Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said it is the habit of provinces that after using six month’s electricity, they blame invoices as incorrect.QESCO officials informed the committee that during the past seven years, they confronted with Rs. 247 million damages due to 194 terrorism encounters. Currently, Iran is providing 35 MW electricity but we demanded to increase it upto 70 MW, whereas separate dialogues are underway to provide 100 MW for Gawadar, officials briefed.During the course of meeting, QESCO officials admitted that 18 hours’ load shedding is continuing in Balochistan. Raja Pervez Ashraf informed committee that after 18th amendment, provinces hold the right to produce unlimited electricity as oppose to previous limits of 50 MW – Onlinenews
