KP’s loadshedding issue: Gandapur threatens to shut power from Tarbela

SWABI: KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said on Tuesday that his government would stop electricity to the country if the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) did not stop loadshedding in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. “We will press a button at the Tarbela Dam and will shut down power supply to half of the country,” he threatened.

Gandapur was addressing a gathering after the inauguration of the first phase of the Pehur High Level Canal (PHLC) extension project completed at a cost of Rs1,000 million. The whole project will be completed in three stages at a total estimated cost of Rs15.6 billion. It will irrigate its gross command area of 30,000 acres. The chief minister a day earlier at a meeting with Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Energy Awais Legahri had vowed to solve the issue through consultations.

Expressing the resolve to end power outages in KP, the chief minister said that by pressing the button (a reference to Tarbela Dam), electricity supply to half of Pakistan will be cut off immediately. However, he did not explain how he will stop power supply to the entire country. “We want an end to power outages,” he said

He said the PTI had planned to start a movement for the release of PTI founding chairman Imran Khan after Eidul Azha. He said people will participate in the protest. “We hope that the leaders of Form 47 will never ever succeed. We are leaders of Form 45,” he remarked.

He said that they wanted real freedom and would stand up for it with full strength and were ready to continue to fight for this genuine cause.

The chief minister announced to double the single-line 18-kilometre Swabi-Topi Road to absorb the increasing traffic.

Earlier, the chief minister inaugurated the PHCL extension project which will irrigate the arid land of Malikabad and Pabini in Gadoon Amazai region, some parts of Jhanda Union Council, and the entire Maini Union Council.

The chief minister said that the Pehur High Level Canal Extension Project would play an important role in the development and prosperity of the region. He said that agriculture and irrigation sectors were among the top-most priorities of his government. He added that pragmatic steps would be taken under a well-devised and integrated strategy to address the longstanding issue of food security on a sustainable basis.

Asad Qaiser, former speaker of National Assembly, provincial Minister for Irrigation Aqibullah Khan, Member National Assembly Shahram Khan Tarakai and Member Provincial Assembly Rangaiz Khan, ministers, MPAs, officials of the Irrigation Department, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and workers attended the ceremony.