Islamabad, (Parliament Times) : Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar Ul Haq has said that the federal government should fulfill his constitutional demands for providing the provision of electricity to Azad Kashmir at the same rate as it was being generated from the region’s power houses.
Speaking during a private TV program, the AJK premier made it clear that his demands were legitimate and in line with the constitutional provisions of Pakistan.He said that the electricity consumption in Azad Kashmir was not more than 400 MWs while the electricity generated from different power generating units in Azad Kashmir was 2800 MWs.The PM said that 30 megawatts of electricity produced at the cost of 3.5 rupees per unit was transmitted to the National Grid from Jagran1. ” We are getting the same electricity at 30 rupees per unit”, he said, adding that his demand was AJK nationals should be provided electricity at the same price.Regarding the ongoing protest against the inflated bills, the PM said that there have been peaceful protests in different areas but one thing that needs to be realized was that anyone who uses electricity was bound to pay the bill.In response to a question, he said that electricity theft was not just an issue of Azad Kashmir. He said that electricity theft, which occurs in all four federal units, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, needs to be stopped forthwith.Replying to another query, the PM said that non-developmental expenses should be reduced.He said that the people of Kashmir who have rendered unprecedented sacrifices for Pakistan were ready to offer all kinds of sacrifices for a strong, stable and economically vibrant Pakistan.” Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan was our destination”, the PM said.In response to another question, he said that AJK should be given its due share out of the federal distributable income. The PM said that he had raised all these issues at the recent meeting of the Senate Committee on Finance wherein all the members listened to our grievances sympathetically.