Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) signed an agreement with United Bank Limited (UBL) to collect bills from consumers at a ceremony held at Divisional Conference Hall Hyderabad on Tuesday. The MD Wasa Saleemuddin and Senior Voice President Mustafa Rehman inked the agreement in presence of Divisional Commissioner Hyderabad Ahmed Bux Narejo.
Addressing the ceremony as Chief Guest Narejo hoped that the agreement would facilitate the consumers of Wasa at their door steps to submit their utility bills which according to him was facing huge financial crisis. He said that he himself encouraged HDA and Wasa officials for materialising the suggestion to have an agreement with UBL for collection of bills adding that the agreement would not only be helpful for consumers but Wasa could also get rid of financial crisis by improving the recovery of its dues.
He said that due to low recovery of dues, even salary of the employees was difficult to pay, leave apart other expenditures. The Divisional Commissioner said that he had talked to Secretary Finance to restore the grant to Wasa but insisted upon the officials of the Agency to get the things on right path and improve the performance, especially in collecting the dues from consumers. Narejo assured the officials for his all out co-operation for getting the Agency out of financial constraints.
Briefing on the occasion Director Commercial HDA, Mohsin Raza Jaffri told that Wasa was in financial crisis due to multiple problems, but major of them was low recovery of just Rs 25 million out of its Rs 40 to 50 million outstanding. After signing agreement recovery of dues will improve up to 25 percent by adjusting 5 percent arrears with current bills. He further said that 1, 50,000 Wasa consumers would be facilitated for payments of bills through 188 UBL Omni outlets. He said that franchises could play very important role in motivating the consumers.
UBL Senior Vice President while elaborating salient features of the bank said that UBL being the leading bank, pioneered the technology based banking in the country and with the signing of this agreement 188 shops registered with Omni Online Service will provide convenient service, which will ultimately prove profitable for Wasa.