Gandapur threatens to take over Pesco over load-shedding

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has threatened to take over the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) if the load-shedding duration in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa isn’t reduced by tonight'.

“If Pesco chief stays in KP, he will have to work according to my schedule,” Gandapur warned.

He demanded that the federal government provide relief to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to him, are experiencing a 22-hour load-shedding .

He said:  “I am sending a message to the federal government and the energy minister.

“Where there is 16-hour load-shedding, bring it down to 12 hours.  Where there is 22 hours of load shedding, give a 6-hour relief.”

“|Change the load-shedding schedule, otherwise, I will take hold of all the grids

The chief minister also demanded the federal government clear the outstanding arrears of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

He said the provincial government asked the centre several times to solve the problem of load-shedding, ‘but to no avail’

The chief minister came down hard on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government over ‘expensive electricity’ and ‘worst load-shedding’.

“Electricity is being supplied to our people at high rates. It would be their mistake if they [Centre] think that we will remain silent.”

The federal government has to clear Rs1.51 trillion dues under Net Hydel Profit, he added.

 “In the previous PTI’s term, electricity was being provided at Rs15 per unit. But now, it is unavailable even at Rs65 per unit.”