Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali Saturday said that electricity supply to all defaulters will be disconnected without any discrimination. Abid reportedly faced tough time in the federal cabinet meeting when Prime Minister rejected the interim audit on overbilling. Insiders claim that Ministries of Finance and Water and Power are involved in the overbilling scam; and Finance Minister has been made chairman of the committee, that's why!
Abid Sher Ali said the government was making all-out efforts to end loadshedding and reducing dependence on power generation through expensive source of diesel and furnace oil. "We are reducing reliance on diesel and furnace oil to generate power in a bid to boost economy," he said, adding that the government would cut power loadshedding for industry however, loadshedding for domestic consumers would continue from 6 to 8 hours in winter season.
He said the government could not slash power price in the existing power generation system where energy mix was very poor. He added that the government would receive power bills from those consumers in three instalments who had been overcharged. "The government will select four union councils from every power distribution company (Disco) and they would be matched to identify the causes of overbillings," he said, adding that this process would be completed in a week. He added that action would be taken against those involved in overbillings.
He said power supply would be disconnected to the defaulters' institutions including public and private concerns. "However, defense departments would be exempted," he said, adding that electricity would be restored after 100 percent payment. "An amount of Rs 52 billion dues is pending due to court cases," he said, adding that the government was working on gas-based power plants to add 1,500 to 2,000 MW in the national grid to provide cheaper electricity to consumers. Abid said electricity supply would not be restored to PTI leader Imran Khan until he clears all power dues.
"Imran is not telling the truth and he is to clear Rs 148,000 power dues," he said, adding that Khan would have to clear these dues for restoration of electricity. He maintained that Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) had cut power supply of Capital Development Authority (CDA) due to non-payment of dues. The demand for power has come down to 12,000 MW against 19,000 MW in summer. "The power loadshedding ranging from 6 to 8 hours would continue for domestic consumers in winter season," he added. Ministry of Water and Power's top bureaucracy has recently been changed with Younus Dagha as Additional Secretary Incharge because the previous team led by Nargis Sethi failed to bring improvement in the system.
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