Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday directed officials of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) to improve their efficiency and make the company more consumer friendly.
Addressing officials of the company at IESCO headquarters during his visit here, the minister urged them to ensure smooth supply of electricity in their respective areas to facilitate the consumers.
He said "Being a representative of a commercial sector organisation, it is moral and professional duty of every Sub-Divisional Officer to personally listen and resolve problem of every customer." He said the ministry is introducing the culture of reward and punishment in its department to encourage competent workers who always remain busy in their work while those who will show lethargy and negligence in their duties will not be tolerated. He said every officer has to deliver otherwise he will be sent home, as there is no room for the incompetent person in public service organisations.
Ashraf said the ministry will announce compensation for deserving staff member of power distribution companies and all possible assistance will be provided to them.
He said the government will also start project for the welfare of employees' families particularly for providing better education facilities to their children besides medical assistance. He said the ministry will also consider to raise the salaries of Wapda employees. He said steps will also be taken to improve service delivery of all electricity distribution companies functioning in the country. He said due to increasing oil prices in the international market, the government is affording additional charges on power generation. For this reason, the country is facing power crises.
However, the minister said short-term and long-term strategies have been planned to overcome the situation and to reduce gap between power demand and supply.
He said the government will arrange international investors' conference in USA this year on Thar Coal to encourage international investors to come Pakistan and start investment in Thar area which will also help generate more power.
Chief Executive IESCO Raja Abdul Ghafoor said the company is trying to provide uninterrupted flow of electricity to its consumers and company's employees are working day and night for this purpose.
He said the company has controlled its line losses and remained successful among all power distribution companies regarding better recovery ratio. The company has also started awareness campaign to educate citizens to avoid power wastage, he added.
Earlier, the minister visited various sections of IESCO headquarters including complaint, monitoring and marketing cell and was briefed on the functioning of these sections.