During the national assembly standing committee on energy (power division) session on Thursday, FATA's elected representative, Iqbal Afridi suggested meetings with ex prime minister Imran Khan to address electricity woes. The committee, chaired by Muhammad Idris, convened with Federal Energy Minister Sardar Owais Leghari in attendance. Afridi pleaded for equitable electricity distribution in FATA, where many areas endure severe shortages. Afridi criticized the perceived injustice, highlighting the region's ongoing struggle with unreliable power supply. Despite a substantial budget allocation of 65 billion rupees and 39 billion rupees allocated for free electricity this year, Afridi lamented the inadequate implementation.

"There is no electricity infrastructure in FATA since Pakistan's independence," Afridi emphasized, urging against the sale of dams and advocating for prioritized meetings with Imran Khan. He proposed a novel solution: imposing a 10,000 rupee tax per meeting with the Prime Minister to fund essential developments.Following his statement, Afridi abruptly exited the meeting, sparking reactions from fellow committee members. Rana Muhammad Hayat of the Muslim League (N) expressed skepticism, echoing concerns over effective governance. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in FATA's energy sector and highlights innovative approaches to policymaking in Pakistan's legislative landscape.

 Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)