KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday directed K-Electric and Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to resolve within 15 days their dispute over non-payment of outstanding dues by the former to ensure supply of electricity to residents of the city.
He chaired here today a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Energy on the power crisis that has hit residents of the city hard in the sweltering weather for the last few weeks.
Speaking to the media, Abbasi said SSGC has been directed to supply adequate gas to the power utility so that it could ensure provision of electricity to its consumers. He said supply of water and electricity would be ensured in the city.
He also clarified that the government cannot take over the power utility over its failure to meet growing demand of electricity in the country’s largest city.
The premier said electricity is available more than its current demand, but load-shedding will continue in the areas where there is electricity theft.
He said if people will pay their electricity bills, power cuts will completely end in the city.
Earlier, PM Abbasi landed at Karachi airport, where Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair welcomed him.
Hours-long load-shedding being carried out by K-Electric because of what it says inadequate supply of gas by Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) to run its gas-fired power plants triggered a political sparring between the PPP-led provincial government and PML-N government at the centre, forcing the premier to take notice of the situation to address it.
Many residential and industrial areas of the city have been facing severe load-shedding of up to 12 hours in a day.
Among the areas worst hit by power cuts are blocks 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14 of Federal B Area, C-1, C and No. 10 localities of Liaquatabad, Lyari, Orangi Town, Korangi, Safoora Goth, Scheme 33, Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Malir, Model Colony, New Karachi, North Karachi and several other areas.
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