Advisor to Sindh Chief Minister and general secretary of Pakistan Muslim League-Q Sindh Haleem Adil Shaikh on Sunday announced to form a citizens' right body, 'Citizens Action Committee Against KESC Lootmar' to save the Karachiites from the excesses of the privatised power utility.
Addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club here on Sunday he said the action committee would be a non-political body, open for all Karachiites. He regretted that load shedding being carried out by Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) has not only baffled the citizens, but also marred trade and industrial activities of the financial hub of the country.
He said if the KESC runs its all power generation units 1950 megawatts electricity could be generated, which will help end the ongoing electricity crisis in the country. He charged that the KESC was generating electricity by using cheap natural gas, but it was charging Karachiites on the cost calculation based on use of furnace oil, which he termed cheating with consumers.
He said the KESC was purchasing electricity from Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) at the rate of Rs430per unit, but selling the same to Karachiites at Rs12.34 per unit to domestic consumers, Rs14per unit to industrial consumers and Rs22 per unit to commercial consumers. He termed it as the worst example of exploitation of Karachiites.
Shaikh said as per the privatisation contract of the KESC, its private owners were legally bound not to raise electricity tariff for seven years and investing Rs4bn to improve KESC capacity. He regretted that violating the contract electricity tariffs were being raised on almost monthly basis, and more than Rs9bn were being recovered from the Karachiites every month.
He said the KESC was looting consumers in the name of average and dictation billing. Sheikh demanded to annul the privatisation of KESC and put the names of its management and Abraaj Group directors in the exit control list, besides freezing all their bank accounts, and making them public after an independent audit.
He requested the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to initiate a probe into affairs of the KESC, with particular reference to the colossal damages it incurred to the national economy and its atrocities on Karachi consumers.
He said the complaints boxes would be installed in different localities to help the KESC consumers lodging their complaints against the KESC. He announced that the central complaint box would be at C-15 Muhammad Ali Society near Tibba Chowrangi, opposite the Makki Masjid, with phone number 021-34302441, fax number 021-3432446 and email kesclootmar@gmail.com.