
ANP slams budget, 18th amendment assault
He said the recently presented federal budget has deliberately ignored K-P — particularly the merged tribal districts — which amounts to a grave injustice on constitutional, political, and state levels.
He made these remarks while presiding over a high-level meeting at Bacha Khan Markaz. The session was attended by provincial general secretary Hussain Shah Yousafzai, other senior party officials, legal advisors, and presidents and secretaries from the merged districts. The meeting thoroughly reviewed the current political and financial situation.
Participants expressed deep concern that the promises made to the merged districts were neither included in the federal budget nor mentioned in the provincial budget. Mian Iftikhar said this reflects a deliberate policy by the state to sideline and disappoint these regions.
He emphasized that if the merged districts are granted their constitutional, political, and financial rights, not only will these areas strengthen, but the entire province will benefit. Unfortunately, he said, the state continues to act in the opposite direction.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Sindh unveils SEPRA plan for cheaper power
Listen to article Sindh Minister for Energy, Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said affordable electricity for businesses and the public is the vision of President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, backed by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Speaking at the "Multi-Stakeholders Conference on Competitive Electric Market in Pakistan," he said the Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC) and the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (SEPRA) will ensure cheaper electricity than K-Electric (KE). Power will be generated in Sindh, transmitted through STDC, and priced by the Sindh government instead of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). SEPRA's staff has been hired, and its notification will be issued this month. The first supply will target the K-IV project grid, with a focus on economic zones. He said hybrid parks will help reduce tariffs and that Sindh is adopting global models to resolve energy issues. High capacity charges of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) can be tackled by expanding industries. Several IPP deals have been reviewed, bringing relief to consumers. Shah also noted Sindh has no representation on KE's board and has asked the federal government to allow two provincial representatives. The province has signed an agreement with KE for solar power supply and urged the utility to avoid expensive fuel-based electricity when solar is available. The conference, organised by Renewables First and the Pakistan Business Forum (PBF), aimed to shift from the monopolistic single-buyer model to a competitive market. Speakers stressed the Competitive Trading Bilateral Contracts Market (CTBCM), approved by the ECC and NEPRA decades ago but not operational, is key to affordable electricity.


Business Recorder
17 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Sindh minister claims govt to supply electricity cheaper than K-Electric
KARACHI: Sindh government claimed on Tuesday it would soon start supplying electricity to Karachi's industrial and residential consumers cheaper than K-Electric — currently the only utility providing power in the metropolitan city. 'Under SEPRA (Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority), electricity supplied to Karachi's industries and residential consumers will be much cheaper than the rates charged by K-Electric,' Sindh Minister for Energy, Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain said on Tuesday while speaking at a multi-stakeholders conference titled 'Competitive Electric Market in Pakistan.' 'This is major good news for citizens burdened by expensive electricity, as the establishment of hybrid parks will lead to reduced power tariffs. Sindh is working on resolving energy issues by adopting models from other countries.' The provincial government has completed arrangements for the low-cost electricity and it would notify the development this month, according to a statement issued by the provincial ministry. CTBCM: Electricity market that has never arrived 'This electricity will be generated in Sindh and transmitted through STDC (Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company), with tariffs set independently by the Sindh government rather than linked to NEPRA's (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority) rates,' Shah was quoted saying this at the conference organised by Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) and think tank Renewables First. The statement, however, did not carry numbers as what would be price/tariff of the power and how much electricity the provincial government would generate and/or supply to Karachi's industrial and domestic consumers. Nasir Hussain Shah stated that staff recruitment for SEPRA had been completed and its notification would be issued within the current month (of August). The primary focus is on economic zones, and the aim is to provide the first SEPRA-supplied electricity to the K-IV project's grid, according to the ministry statement. 'Sindh Assembly has given constitutional approval to SEPRA and that citizens of Karachi will also benefit from this system, provided that the transmission network remains with STDC,' Shah said. 'Providing affordable electricity to the business community and the public is the vision of President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.' He further said the issue of high capacity charges of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) could be resolved by establishing more industries, because while payments must be made, economic growth should also occur. Electricity market under CTBCM: Power Div invites comments from stakeholders Shah also noted that there was no representation of Sindh in K-Electric's board, with three directors from the federal government. 'We have asked the federal government to have one representative from the federation and the remaining two from Sindh,' he said.


Express Tribune
17 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Sindh unveils independent power framework to offer cheaper electricity
Listen to article In a bid to provide relief to Karachi's residents and industrial sectors grappling with soaring power tariffs, Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah on Tuesday announced a new electricity supply framework under the Sindh Electric Power Regulatory Authority (SEPRA). Speaking to the media on Tuesday, he revealed that electricity will be generated and transmitted by the Sindh Transmission and Dispatch Company (STDC) under the recently approved SEPRA. Shah stated that the rates offered under SEPRA will be substantially lower than those currently charged by K-Electric. 'We will generate electricity ourselves and transmit it through STDC. Most importantly, we will determine the tariff ourselves,' he said. 'The electricity transmitted through STDC will not be subject to NEPRA's pricing. Our rates will be significantly more affordable.' Also Read: Bilawal dismisses 27th Constitutional Amendment rumours as 'baseless' The provincial minister confirmed that the SEPRA framework has been constitutionally approved by the Sindh Assembly, and staffing for the authority is already complete. A formal notification is expected later this month. 'Our primary focus is on providing reliable and low-cost electricity to Karachi's economic zones,' he said, adding, 'We aim to deliver SEPRA's first transmission to the grid supplying power to the Korangi industrial area.' He further asserted that the transmission infrastructure must be under STDC's control for the plan to succeed. 'Karachi's citizens will also benefit from this initiative once the system is in place,' he added. Commenting on K-Electric's governance structure, Shah pointed out the lack of provincial representation on its board. 'Currently, all three board directors represent the federal government. We have proposed that one director remain from the federal side, while the other two should represent Sindh,' he said. Read: Pakistan wins water arbitration against India The minister also mentioned an agreement between the Sindh government and K-Electric to supply the utility with low-cost electricity from upcoming solar parks. 'We've asked K-Electric to avoid purchasing electricity generated through expensive fuel when solar-based power is available,' he said. K-Electric currently depends on the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for tariff determination and price notifications, even as it faces mounting criticism over rising electricity costs and persistent load-shedding. While announcing a new provincial power initiative, Shah did not provide specifics on the tariff structure or generation mechanism under SEPRA. Also Read: ATC orders Qureshi's release after acquittal According to NEPRA's data, Pakistan's power generation continues to lean heavily on costly imported fuels. Over 20% of electricity was generated using imported liquefied natural gas (LNG), at a steep cost of Rs24.26 per unit. Similarly, electricity from imported coal came in at Rs16.60 per unit. Hydroelectric and nuclear sources offered some relief—contributing 21.94% and 17.91% to the power mix respectively—at significantly lower costs. Nuclear power, in particular, stood out as the cheapest source at just Rs2.10 per unit. However, these affordable options were not enough to offset the impact of more expensive fuel-based generation. Locally sourced coal accounted for 14.51% of power generation at Rs11.21 per unit, while gas-based power made up 8% at Rs11.82 per unit. Though furnace oil contributed just 0.79% to the national grid, it remained the most expensive source, costing Rs28.77 per unit.