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KARACHI:
The 2 struggling and loss-making energy distribution corporations (DISCOs) of Sindh are girding up their loins to keep away from the sword of privatisation because the caretaker authorities appears adamant to outsource all such non-remunerative public organisations.
Just lately, a group of World Financial institution officers met caretaker Federal Minister for Privatisation Fawad Hasan Fawad in Islamabad to debate the federal government’s privatisation coverage with particular deal with DISCOs.
Apart from the Karachi Division, the 2 public energy DISCOs in Sindh – Hyderabad Electrical Provide Firm (Hesco) and Sukkur Electrical Energy Firm (Sepco) – present companies in 23 districts the place officers and unionists have been complaining due to an acute scarcity of employees and correct tools to run the utilities.
On the identical time, they’re being pressurised to make sure 100% invoice restoration and eradicate decades-old drawback of energy theft.
Veteran labour chief and All Pakistan Wapda Hydroelectric Employees Union Central Common Secretary Khurshid Ahmed, whereas speaking to The Categorical Tribune over telephone from Lahore, stated that the federal government is performing on diktat of the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) and planning to privatise corporations, which is able to multiply issues of lots as outsourcing of unprofitable organisations is just not an acceptable answer to such and different points.
Learn Defaulters owe DISCOs over Rs2tr
He stated that Wapda used to work effectively however the authorities fashioned DISCOs and inked agreements with unbiased energy producers (IPPs) on the idea of ill-advised insurance policies.
“At the moment, each employees of the businesses and prospects are paying the value of incorrect methods, that are scaling up energy tariff and compelling prospects to steal electrical energy to keep away from excessive tariffs.
“What’s extra, no appointments have been made for the final six years whereas each DISCO is dealing with a scarcity of technical employees. Sincere and laborious employees should be inspired and black sheep must be punished to run organisations easily,” he stated.
Hesco spokesperson Sadiq Kubar stated that the federal government did by no means share the privatisation coverage with the corporate, whereas the corporate recovered over Rs4 billion out of the full dues of Rs174 billion since September 7 through the anti-theft marketing campaign with the help of Sindh police, Federal Investigation Company (FIA) and income division. Furthermore, the corporate is dealing with 38% employees scarcity.
“It’s for the primary time within the firm’s historical past that three different departments are absolutely supporting the utility to cease energy theft and guarantee restoration,” he stated.
Sepco spokesperson Tufail Ahmed Soomro stated that regardless of 30% scarcity of employees, Sepco took motion in opposition to 46 officers and sped up the restoration marketing campaign because the home and industrial prospects, and authorities departments owe roughly Rs171 billion.
“No person intends to purchase any unprofitable organisation and even the federal government appears unwilling to outsource such corporations which bristle with liabilities of billions of rupees,” a prime official and policymaker of the Ministry of Power (Energy Division) stated on the situation of anonymity.
“A majority of officers of energy distribution corporations are concerned in electrical energy theft with the connivance of consumers. That is typically being noticed and that’s the reason, regulation enforcement businesses have been working with officers of energy utilities in order that line losses and different unfair means could possibly be eradicated,” he stated.
The official added that rampant corruption has penetrated such organisations together with Hesco, Sepco and others, whereas the nation is dealing with a extreme power disaster. “DISCOs have to make sure 100% restoration after which the matter of privatisaion will be thought of.”
Printed in The Categorical Tribune, October 15th, 2023.
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