RECORDER REPORT

MULTAN: Minister of State for Water & Power Ch. Abid Sher Ali said a new power distribution company is being introduced in Bahawalpur to divide the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) into two companies to facilitate the consumers. Talking to media persons here Wednesday, he said new company will start operation from February 2014. He said we have begun a crusade against power thieves in Multan and warned the factory owners to replace their meters according to their actual load within 15 days and refrain from power theft, otherwise stern action would be taken. He said Discos would be purged of corrupt, dishonest and irregular employees and we would send those officials to home who would fail to reduce the line losses and recovery of out-standing dues and they would not be entitled to any privileges.

He said Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif allows merciless operation against the power thieves. Abid Sher Ali said stern action would be taken against the officials if they supply inflated bill to consumers. He said government will not tolerate theft of electricity and a nationwide vigorous campaign is being launched to curb it. Abid Sher Ali said the PML-N government is determined to adopt multi-pronged strategy to resolve chronic issues of power sector. He said proactive steps are being taken to curb electricity theft, curtail power losses, improve inefficiency and control corruption in the power sector to bridge gap between demand and supply. He said the government would ensure justified distribution of power besides corrective measures on tariff side.

He alleged that officers of Discos were allowing the factory owners to consume 1,600 to 1,700MW against their approved load of merely 600 MW. It is a crime because Government is incurring huge loss due to this practice. To a query, the Minister said all the management of all power distribution companies has been directed to enlist top 300 defaulters of their respective domain.

He said the government would initiate action against defaulters, officials facilitating the theft. Abid Sher Ali said government is trying its best to resolve energy crisis on operating and strategic levels, as economic growth could not be compromised at any cost. The energy crisis necessitates radical steps coupled with input from all the stakeholders otherwise it will transform into a national security threat, which is not affordable, he said. He said policy prescriptions should not remain limited to the tariff revision, phasing out of subsidies and removal of the circular debt as addressing the issue on sustainable basis would require sincere effort, he added.