PESHAWAR – Following a stern warning regarding the potential takeover of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) successfully negotiated a revised loadshedding schedule for the province in collaboration with the power utility company.
This breakthrough occurred during a meeting held in Peshawar between CM Gandapur and Pesco’s leadership, offering some relief to the public amidst the sweltering summer conditions.
In response to prolonged and unannounced power outages in KP, CM Gandapur had issued a strong ultimatum on Wednesday, threatening to seize the power company’s headquarters if the federal government failed to reduce the duration of power cuts that evening.
During the meeting, the head of Pesco assured a reduction in power outage durations across the province. Under the new agreement, areas previously subjected to 22-hour loadshedding will now face 18-hour outages, while regions experiencing 18-hour power cuts will see a reduction to 14-hour interruptions.
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To enforce adherence to the new schedule, CM Gandapur emphasized that Pesco officials would meet with the chief secretary today, with strict consequences outlined for any deviations. He warned that any exceeding of the scheduled loadshedding duration should result in legal action against the relevant executive engineer (XEN).
The chief minister expressed readiness to engage in negotiations with the federal government to address electricity issues, stressing that immediate relief for the public must precede any discussions. He underscored the provincial government’s commitment to providing relief by deducting the owed amount from its dues to the Centre, attributing line losses in the province to the federal government and Pesco.
CM Gandapur had recently criticized the federal government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, for exorbitant electricity costs and severe loadshedding. He demanded that the Centre settle the outstanding dues owed to KP, signaling the province’s firm stance on addressing electricity-related grievances.
