KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur restored electricity supplies after accessing a grid station in Dera Ismail Khan on Wednesday, imposing his own 12-hour loadshedding timetable.
According to a statement released on the KP government’s X account, no location will now experience power outages lasting more than 12 hours.
The chief minister further asked that all parliamentarians visit grid stations in their respective constituencies to ensure that the 12-hour loadshedding timetable is followed.
Dawn.com has contacted the Peshawar Electric Supply Company for reaction on the situation. Long periods of loadshedding, up to 22 hours a day, have been experienced in some areas of the province.
Energy Minister Awais Leghari called revenue-based power cuts, which suspend power delivery to regions with significant pilferage and low bill recovery, “a necessity” last month.
He stated that category 3 to 8 feeders, which had 20 to 80 percent losses, were exposed to power outages for 15-16 hours. “If we supply electricity from these feeders, the economy that is already struggling will collapse,” Leghari had stated.
In September last year, while declaring a crackdown on energy theft, caretaker government ministers stated that power distribution businesses in Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Quetta, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir had suffered losses of up to 60%.
CM Gandapur claimed during a news conference earlier today that the federal government was not paying the province government’s dues and income, which totaled roughly Rs1,600 billion.
He stated that the federal government had sought some time to study the electrical system and called for the provincial government’s assistance in this endeavor.
However, CM Gandapur stated that the deadline set by the Centre had passed, and that he had sought to contact Leghari but received no answer.
“This means you (the people) and we are free,” he said. The chief minister outlined his agenda for future action and asked everyone to follow it to the letter and spread the word.
“No one has to damage any Wapda asset because it is our asset and made with our tax money.” The chief minister announced that there would be no loadshedding beyond 12 hours at any feeder and lawmakers would have to ensure this and monitor this by personally overseeing the matter. Addressing the police, Gandapur said he had informed the KP police chief that the police would register no case against anyone on Wapda’s request. “This is KP’s police. It is not bound to Wapda. Wapda is committing injustice, we are not getting our right and at the same time there is unfairness with us so you have to move forward with what is just.
“Imran Khan has made me the chief minister of your province, I’m the chief executive and you have to follow those instructions that I’m telling.”
To the government, he said it would have to follow his directions and have staff there with lawmakers to check grid stations and ensure no faults or loadshedding for more than 12 hours.
He stated that it was the federal government’s job to resolve all of the difficulties listed above, but that it was failing to do so, therefore criticism was justified.
The KP chief minister stated that his next action would be to cut off the province’s national electricity supplies.
“I am also coming to Islamabad. Don’t assume I’m saying this only from my province. I’ll say it everything in Islamabad too.”
Addressing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Gandapur stated that the premier had phoned and informed him of the province’s support for securing a deal with the IMF.
“I first want my province’s money, otherwise, I will clearly tell the IMF that they take money in our name, tax our people.”
He “warned” PM Shehbaz that the premier’s behavior and actions were “forcing [us] to shove your government aside”.
“I am aware of your capacity, circumstances, and the manner in which you hold authority, as well as how to remove you. I will carry out all of these measures gradually, and you will be unable to tolerate it and will scream, and even those who brought you to power will be unable to help you since they have shouted while standing with you because they are being criticized more.”
He said that the federal government had broken its promise and would now bear the consequences.
Speaking to DawnNewsTV today, KP government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif stated his view on incidences of forceful entrance into grid stations to restore the power supply, saying it essentially amounted to “the nation’s anger and frustration”.
“This is what happens when the institutions and the government do not listen to the people’s demands nor take any sincere action to fulfil them, which is when the people take matters into their own hands, which I don’t think is a positive or good step because the law is taken into their own hands, there are legal violations and other unpleasant incidents occur, so it is our final effort that such issues are not born, and whatever issues are [present] of electricity, supply, heat and
Saif stated that the provincial administration may try to manage the people so that they do not take matters into their own hands, but he questioned how long this could last.
Previously, he chastised the administration in a post on X for failing to eliminate loadshedding on the third day of Eidul Azha.
“Offices, industries, and marketplaces are shuttered, and the unlawful loadshedding continues. “The patience of the people of KP has been tested,” he remarked.
Today’s developments are the latest in a long-running dispute between the province and the federal government over energy supply and load shedding in KP.
CM Gandapur was enraged by the ongoing power disruptions in KP and the province’s outstanding debts to the federal government.
On May 15, he told the Centre 15 days to reduce the period of loadshedding and threatened to “take over” the offices of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), which is owned by the federal government and delivers electricity to the majority of KP, and file proceedings against its executives if his requests were not satisfied.
The anger got so acute that PTI MPA Fazal Elahi led demonstrators into Peshawar’s Rehman Baba Grid Station and physically activated feeders to restore power to their districts.
After months of acrimony, CM Gandapur and the federal government announced on May 27 that they had struck an agreement to eliminate power outages in the province, recoup outstanding debts, and solve the issue of line losses.
On May 15, he gave the Centre 15 days to reduce the duration of loadshedding and threatened to “take over” the offices of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), which is owned by the federal government and supplies electricity to the majority of KP, and file legal action against its executives if his demands were not met.
The outrage was so strong that PTI MPA Fazal Elahi led protesters into Peshawar’s Rehman Baba Grid Station and physically triggered feeders to restore power to their areas.
After months of squabbles, CM Gandapur and the federal government declared on May 27 that they had reached an agreement to end power outages in the province, reclaim unpaid bills, and address the issue of line losses.
