MuttahidaQaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaderSyed Mustafa Kamal has called on the prime minister to develop acomprehensive national policy, instead of a particularprovincial-centric policy, to address the country’s electricity crisis.He stressed that Karachi, despite current challenges, continues tocontribute 51% to the national economy so any policy for relief inelectricity bills should include Sindh and particularly Karachi, he saidwhile speaking to a private TV channel.Syed Mustafa Kamal expressed concerns over the high electricity tariffsand capacity payments, urging the government to provide immediate reliefto the public.
Referring to his recent meeting with the prime minister, Syed MustafaKamal clarified that the meeting with the prime minister was not focusedsolely on Punjab, where electricity prices have been reduced by Rs. 14,but on the broader electricity issues affecting the entire country,including Karachi.
The MQM-P leader urged the prime minister to take clear and decisiveaction on the matter, rather than relying on indirect information.
Syed Mustafa Kamal revealed that he, along with Information MinisterAttaTarar, held a joint press conference on the issue of IndependentPower Producers (IPPs).He added that meetings with Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) ChairmanBilawal Bhutto Zardari and President AsifZardari had also taken place,and there was no animosity between them.However, he criticised the Sindh government for its ‘discriminatory’treatment of Karachi and Hyderabad, stressing that the entire nationshould be treated fairly.
“Karachi contributes more than 51% to Pakistan’s exports,” Syed MustafaKamal pointed out, adding that the prime minister is responsible for theentire country, not just Islamabad or Punjab. He called on the primeminister to acknowledge that Sindh is part of Pakistan, which has apopulation of 240 million, and that the entire country deservesattention and relief.Syed Mustafa Kamal highlighted the burden of paying for non-operationalIPPs and suggested that the government should offer affordable land toinvestors for six months to stimulate investment.
He also criticisedthegovernment’s reliance on IMF approvals for spending and insisted thatthere are ways to provide relief to the public by improving managementand fixing leaks in the system.The MQM-P leader dismissed the idea of burning electricity bills as asolution, pointing out that repeating the action after 15 days would befutile.
