Centre isn’t providing fuel for Balochistan’s powerhouses, says CM

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch complained on Friday that the federal government has failed to fulfil its commitment to provide fuel to four powerhouses in far-flung regions of the province.

Presiding over a high-level meeting in the presence of Minister of State for Power Abid Sher Ali, the chief minister said that the provincial government had already paid tens of millions of rupees to QESCO in advance for implementing several development schemes. “All the time, the QESCO high-ups come up with a claim that the cost of construction had increased for which the provincial government should pay more,” he said, adding that QESCO has failed to launch the schemes on time for unknown reasons.

The delay in implementing the development scheme is from QESCO and the cost escalation is being covered by the provincial government, Baloch told the participants of the meeting. He said powerhouses and generators have been installed in Nokkundi, Dureji, Ormara, Washuk and Jiwani and the federal government had committed to provide fuel to at least four powerhouses but failed to deliver on its commitment. Baloch said the people residing in far-flung areas of the province are suffering a lot for the lack of power supply or frequent interruptions in power supply for shortage of fuel.

Baloch also complained that many posts are vacant in QESCO and locals are not being recruited. He advised QESCO to recruit local people. Responding to the chief minister’s remarks, Abid Sher Ali promised that local people will be recruited on all vacant posts in QESCO. He said that there was an agreement that the users of agriculture tube-wells will use 30 horsepower engines for procuring sub-soil water and they are using 60 horsepower motors. He assured the chief minister that the federal government would provide fuel to five powerhouses in remote areas of Balochistan that are not linked with the national grid system.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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