The revenue collection has come down to 81 percent against 104 percent in 2009-10 and the line losses have reached to 26 percent in July 2014 against 25.7 percent in July 2013 in all the 10 Discos in the country. It may be noted that the Nepra has allowed line losses up to 9.1 percent, a target impossible to meet by the Discos. The power sector sources have blamed the poor management skills of top brass of Wapda and NTDC, having failed to overcome the electricity shortage is concerned.
They further added that higher management of power sector lacked the requisite expertise because of very little exposure to the policy management. According to these circles, majority of the high-ups in the Ministry of Water and Power have no background of power sector. Sitting caretaker MD Pepco Imran Ahmed had no background of power industry, they said, adding he was in the Information Ministry before joining the Ministry of Water & Power.
These circles have also doubts about the managerial capacities of Nargis Sethi, Secretary Ministry of Water & Power. These circles have pointed out that the present top management in Wapda and NTDC has no experience of managing the affairs at larger scale. Also, those having been promoted from within the Wapda and Pepco have an experience limited to installation of meters and erecting the electricity polls. There is a crowd of non-technical managers at the helm of affairs spending most of their time and energies on filling the gaps. Sources from within the Wapda have also pointed out that refund claims worth Rs 100 billion on electricity bills are yet stuck up with FBR and litigation relating to claims and counter claims is underway between the Discos, Gencos and FBR.