US Energy for International Development (USAID) Power Distribution Programme (PDP) has reportedly been marred by the use of substandard ABC cable and Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) system. The inferior quality cable has led to fatalities of linemen in Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco). Well-informed sources told Business Recorder, USAID contracted a private company to provide tools to more than 10,000 Discos' linemen but failed to meet the safety standards.
USAID's five-year, $218 million power distribution project which was to be wrapped up last month has been extended after Chairman Nepra Brigadier Tariq Sadozai (retired) urged the agency to complete the project. The power distribution project was part of the US government's commitment to support the Government of Pakistan to improve the energy sector. The program introduced several innovative technologies to Pakistan, such as smarter meters and anti-theft cables, which are helping power distribution companies reduce losses and increase revenues.
According to sources, more than a dozen accidents occurred in Peshawar and Multan in which five linemen died and several were injured. The company has no mechanism to ensure safety of linemen, and does not offer any insurance to linemen working on electric lines. Despite the fact that the linemen safety was sold on a larger level yet the contractor completely ignored training to the linemen. A group of linemen trainers left the project and formed a society called "Society for Saving Linemen" to protect linemen working on hazardous projects such as USAID's ABC cable which is highly dangerous and so far nearly 300KM has been installed in Peshawar and Multan. The sources further stated that to empower the linemen, USAID designed a unique project whereby In Peshawar 100 rickshaws were given to Pesco but the company's staff refused to use rickshaws as a result none of the rickshaws has been used since 2012 and are standing in PESCO Sub-Divisions.
Engility installed ABC - a low standard cable - but inexplicably the same company was given another contract for ABC cable. ABC cannot be sustained at high temperatures therefore the USAID refused to pay for additional cost and the contractor agreed to bear the cost but then silently paid that cost from employees' severance (the budget was approved by USAID but never disclosed to the employees). The contractor despite allocating money from own funds, used the money allocated for local staff severance and final entitlements. The contractor further mobilized home office staff to Pakistan for business development yet on PDP funds which were highly illegal. One company was awarded the contract twice. The substandard ABC cable was insulated to cover/hide its quality. USAID held the company responsible.
One of the employees of the contracting firm Muhammad Sharif working at Ministry of Water & Power died in March 2015 but his family never received any compensation from the company despite many requests made by his family. The Ministry wrote official requests to the contractor for payments. The contractor itself had signed a contract with employees, ensuring that the company will pay medical and health insurance. The family of the deceased is requesting various offices to help in this regard. The sources said ABC cable and AMR meters installed in Multan were not manufactured in accordance with specifications and intensity of heat due to which the meters burned.