KARACHI: Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan leader Syed Mustafa Kamal has called on prime minister to develop comprehensive national policy, instead of particular provincial-centric policy, to address country’s electricity crisis.

He stressed that Karachi, despite current challenges, continues to contribute 51 percent to national economy so any policy for relief in electricity bills should include Sindh and particularly Karachi. He expressed concerns over high electricity tariffs and capacity payments, urging government to provide immediate relief to public. Referring to his recent meeting with prime minister, he clarified that meeting with prime minister was not focused solely on Punjab, where electricity prices have been reduced by Rs 14, but on broader electricity issues affecting the entire country, including Karachi. MQM-P leader urged prime minister to take clear and decisive action on matter, rather than relying on indirect information.

Kamal revealed that he, along with Information Minister Atta Tarar, held joint press conference on issue of Independent Power Producers. He added that meetings with Pakistan Peoples’ Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Zardari had also taken place and there was no animosity between them. However, he criticised Sindh government for its ‘discriminatory’ treatment of Karachi and Hyderabad, stressing that entire nation should be treated fairly. He highlighted burden of paying for non-operational IPPs and suggested that government should offer affordable land to investors for six months to stimulate investment. He criticised government’s reliance on IMF approvals for spending and insisted that there are ways to provide relief to public by improving management and fixing leaks in system. He voiced concerns about allocation of 40 percent of jobs in Sindh under urban quota being taken away through use of fake domiciles, further disadvantaging citizens.