KP govt unveils plan to address power load-shedding crisis

PESHAWAR: In a breakthrough, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities have announced a strategy to tackle the longstanding power load-shedding crisis, pledging to recover billions of rupees in outstanding dues, eradicate electricity theft and illegal connections, and provide swift relief to the public.

A meeting, chaired by Additional Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abid Majeed, brought together Commissioner Peshawar Division Riaz Khan Mahsud, deputy commissioners of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Khyber districts, Wapda officials, and members of the National and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies, to devise a unified plan to addressed the persistent issue of load-shedding in the province.

Special committees have been formed at the district level, comprising assistant commissioners, Wapda officials, and elected representatives, to achieve these objectives. The committees will work to prevent electricity theft, discourage the kunda mafia, and encourage the public to pay electricity bills.

Out of 1300 feeders in Peshawar, Nowshera, and Charsadda, 700 feeders have heavy outstanding dues. Due to electricity theft and the presence of the kunda mafia on these feeders, load-shedding is being done at various times to avoid losses, while no load-shedding is being done on the remaining 500 feeders.

A formal mechanism has been devised to end load-shedding in these areas at the request of the members of the National and Provincial Assemblies. Committees have been formed under the leadership of assistant commissioners in these areas, comprising Wapda officials, representatives of National and Provincial Assembly members, and elected local representatives.

These committees will make joint efforts to prevent electricity theft, discourage the kunda mafia, and encourage the public to pay electricity bills. Only two years’ worth of dues out of the 20 years’ outstanding dues will be collected in easy installments over 24 months without penalties.

Wapda officials were instructed to reduce the duration of ongoing load-shedding in those areas and provide immediate relief to the public once the matters are settled. Recommendations will be presented to the provincial government to take similar measures in the remaining districts of the province, aiming to end load-shedding.

The meeting also decided to replace faulty transformers, worn-out wires, and install new electricity meters in these areas.