KP CM Gandapur, Pesco chief agree on new loading schedule after ‘takeover threat’

PESHAWAR: A day after threatening to take over the entire Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) system, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the utility have agreed on a new load-shedding schedule in the province.

The development came during a meeting between the provincial managing director and the head of Pesco in Peshawar, paving the way for relief to the masses amid the sweltering hot summer.

Angered by the hours-long unannounced power outages in KP, CM Gandapur on Wednesday threatened to take over the headquarters of the power distribution company if the federal government did not reduce the duration of power load in the province from that night.

In the clash with the KP CEO, the Pesco chief assured to reduce the duration of power outages in the province.

As the new schedule was agreed between the duo, those areas which were earlier facing 22 hours of load will now have 18 hours of blackout.”

Similarly, areas where people were anticipating 18-hour power loads will now face a 14-hour power outage.

In a bid to ensure implementation of the new schedule, CM Gandapur said the Pesco official would meet the chief secretary today.

“A case should be filed against the concerned HEN (executive engineer) if there is loading even one minute beyond the schedule on any grid,” he warned.

The prime minister also said that they were ready to talk to the federal government to resolve the issues related to electricity. However, he further said that talks with the Center are not possible till immediate relief to the masses.

“The provincial government wants to give relief to the citizens by deducting the amount from its dues [to the Centre].”

He held the federal government and Pesco responsible for line losses in the province.

Last week, criticizing the federal government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for expensive electricity and “worst load”, Gadapur asked the Center to pay the KP dues.

Addressing a press conference at DI Khan, the provincial chief executive said, “Electricity is being provided to our people at a high rate.”

“It would be their fault if [Centre] think we will remain silent about this injustice,” he warned.

Moving on to the economic challenges and the upcoming first budget of the CM Gandapur-led government, the director general of the provincial administration said, “There is a deficit of over Rs 450 billion.”

The federal government had to clear KP’s Rs 1.51 trillion dues under Net Hydel Profit, he added.

“In the [previous] During PTI, electricity was provided at Rs 15 per unit. [But] now, the utility is priced at Rs 65 per unit and is not even available.”

“I am not seeking charity for our people,” he told the federal government.