ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Energy has agreed to work out a mechanism with the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to end power thefts and resolve power crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Under the workable conditions, recovery on electricity bills is expected to increase across the province, especially the `hard areas` where officials are reluctant to move in. The consumers will benefit from reduction in loadshedding and investments in power infrastructure.

The verbal agreement was reached between Minister for State on Energy Abid Sher Ali and MNAs Shehryar Afridi and Dr Imran Khattak during a session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Energy on Thursday.

The idea for a workable solution to address electricity-related complaints was floated by chairman of the committee Chaudhry Bilal Ahmed Virk as he intervened to resolve an argument between the minister and members of the committee over repairing of faults in transformers.

MNAs Shehryar Afridi and Dr Imran Khattak, belonging to the PTI, expressed concerns that large areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwawere facing prolonged loadshedding, whereas the consumers were asked to pay for repairing faulty transformers.