FederalGovt assured that will not impose tax on the concerns of Sindh government regards solars tax, Minister Energy Nasir Shah
Karachi Provincial Minister for Energy, Development and Planning Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that on the concerns and reservations of the Sindh government regarding the tax on solars, while assuring them that the federal government will not tax solars, he said that no such Proposal not under consideration. Nasir Shah said that in this era of inflation and especially on the people who are fed up with high electricity bills, taxing the use of solar would be a total abuse of the people. He expressed these views today in his address during the question & answered period regards Energy Department in the Sindh Assembly.
Minister Energy expressed his concern over unannounced loadshedding and said that he will discuss with the chief executive of K Electric, Hesco and Speco regarding unannounced loadshedding. He said that there will be a discussion with electricity distribution companies regarding unannounced and excessive billing.
He added that meters are not being provided despite the payment of smart meters, people are with the people who are busy with measures to remove them. He said that during the examinations, electricity distribution institutions have been reprimanded for load shedding. Nasir Shah said that due to non-payment of some houses, all the feeders are closed, this is an abuse of other consumers, only those who do not pay electricity bills should be cut off and others should not be punished. Electricity does not come but huge bills are sent to consumers, HESCO, SEPCO and K Electric have also been told that the government will provide all possible help to the electricity distribution institutions regarding the payment of bills and theft. The government is aware of its responsibility. He said that there are reports of heatwave from May 22 to 27 and the government has taken special measures in this regard while K Electric, Hesco, Sepco have been instructed to supply electricity continuously during these days.
Minister Energy said that compared to other provinces, Sindh Province has created SEPRA (Sindh Electric Power) and with its formation, the power distribution companies will work under us to a large extent. He said that two lakh houses in five districts will be given solar systems in which consumers will also be made partners. He said that up to 300 units of consumers will be provided with free electricity through solarization. Nasir Shah said that according to Bilawal Sahib's manifesto, this facility is being given to users up to 100 units and the scope of this facility will be extended from ten districts to the entire province. He said that many buildings of Karachi have been made on complete solar system. All government buildings, schools, colleges, universities and hospitals will gradually be completely solarized.
Apart from Karachi, many buildings in Hyderabad have also been solarized. He said that Kohsar and Lums hospitals have been fully solarized, similarly steps are underway to solarize other government buildings. Nasir Shah said that after the 18th amendment, provinces can install their own power plants of up to 50 MW. He said that the Sindh government is providing the most and cheapest electricity to the National Grid as compared to other provinces. Solar parks are working in Manjhand and Karachi and other places will be established under public private partnership. He said that the Sindh government is providing 100 MW of cheap electricity to the National Grid through Nooriabad Power Plants.
Tharcoal was the idea of Bibi Shaheed Benazir Bhutto while “Thar Badlegaa Pakistan” credit goes to Syed Qaim Ali Shah. Foreign investors are lining up to invest in Thar and the interest of investors is increasing. Nasir Shah said that TharCoal Block I-II work is going on. Thar is supplying cheap electricity to the National Grid from Coal. He added that we are going towards gasification from coal, which means we are going to make electricity and oil and gas from coal. He said that only 322 customers have benefited under the equity policy regarding solarization compared to 200,000 customers. Nasir Shah said that out of 12 blocks of Tharcoal, two blocks are functional at present. Special measures have been taken by the government for education, health and employment of local people in Thar.
He said that 400 km of roads have been improved, the Sindh government wants equity basis from the federal government regarding the railway track in Thar.
Imran 
