ISLAMABAD: National Assembly was informed Wednesday that a uniform program of load shedding from four to six hours is being observed across the country.

Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali told the House in response to a Calling Attention Notice that there is no discrimination in this regard except the areas where power is pilfered or due are not paid.

MNAs Nafeesa Shah, Ijaz Jakhrani and Imran Zafar Leghari had mentioned to different areas of Sindh province where they had claimed that power remains suspended for 20 to 22 hours a day.

The minister replied that it is not the policy of the government to discriminate but in the areas mentioned by the members, the government is facing severe power pilferage.

He explained that in Lakhi area of Larkana sub division of Shikarpur circle there is 100 percent power theft. The situation is the same in Nasarullah feeder and Kandhkot industrial area where 98% power is pilfered.

He however reiterated to control power theft and sought cooperation of the member to steer country out of power crisis. "We have also sent FIR reports to Sindh government for an action against those pilfering power from national grid."

When the members contested his stance, Abid Sher Ali said, the government is trying to mend the follies of the past. "It is our mission to mend the situation. But, our efforts are thwarted by kidnapping employees of distributing companies and stealing the transformers."

He assured the members to improve functioning of the departments and bring them to task who assist the consumers in power theft. "We have also offered to provinces to take charge of distributing companies and help us out in discouraging power theft."

SOURCE: APP