Daily Times

KARACHI: Water and Power Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday said that the government would soon settle arrears and all other issues with the Sindh government.

“The complaints about load shedding by the Sindh government would also be addressed in a proper way,” he told media after a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

The minister said electricity transmission system across the country needs upgradation and it would be established on priority basis. Replying to a question regarding load shedding in the country, he said that the government was committed to overcome the energy crisis and load shedding would soon be mitigated from all over the country as possible.

Murad Ali Shah on the occasion said the Sindh government has no such major differences on the issue of electricity with the federal government and it would be resolved shortly. “We already had positive negotiations with the federal government on these issues and we are optimistic about settlement of arrears’ issue shortly,” he added.

Shah thanked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for listening to him during his last visit to federal capital and asked Khwaja Asif to resolve all the pending issue of the Sindh government. “This was the meeting held in follow up of my meeting with prime minister,” he said.

The chief minister said all the closed power plants in Sindh would be made operational shortly for reducing load shedding in the province. Shah said that the Water and Power minister assured him of maximum cooperation from the federal government to minimise the menace in Sindh.

The chief minister expressed satisfaction over the meeting and said, “The meeting with Khawaja Asif was held in a good atmosphere and remained fruitful.”

He said he has also demanded of the federal government to provide direct electricity to Sindh from transmission lines. Shah dispelled the impression about electricity theft in the province and said that it is not correct and contrary to facts.