WAPDA outstanding dues Rs220bn: Naveed Qamar

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Water and Power Syed Naveed Qamar on Tuesday said that the public and private sectors owe around Rs 220 billion to the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) on account of utility charges.

Comprehensive strategy has been chalked out to recover all the outstanding dues from both public and private sector with zero tolerance policy, he told media during his visit to National Power Control Centre here.

"Strict action would be taken against the defaulters whether it was Prime Minister Secretariat or any other department," he asserted.

The Minister said provincial governments were pursuing cases for recovery of outstanding dues from all departments of provincial governments, adding that provincial governments and WAPDA had been asked to recover money from the defaulters while observing zero tolerance policy so that the issue of load-shedding could be resolved.

"Efforts are being made to ensure cash inflow to maintain fuel supply to suppliers for uninterrupted power generation."

He said that all power supply companies have been directed to disconnect the power supply of both private and government sector defaulters without any discrimination.

He said that situation in KESC is not good. PEPCO as per agreement is supplying more than 650 MW, "if it will not pay we will not supply."

He said that fuel procurement will be difficult in case of non-recovery of receivable, which will ultimately hit the power generation.

He informed that Pakistan Electric Power Company (PEPCO) would be dissolved till June this year under the power sector reforms and the responsibility will be given to the DISCOs.

He said PEPCO has formulated a strategy in collaboration with suppliers to find out a permanent solution of load-shedding, adding that situation has considerably improved with certain measures that helped produced 14, 300 MW

He said load-shedding has been reduced in big cities and industrial areas while the rural and far flung areas are still facing problem but to a limited extend.

To a question he said this is wrong that protests are being staged in various parts of the country against load-shedding, rather the protests were being staged by defaulters due to non payment of dues.

To another question he said that two rental power plants are providing 171 MW and there is no plan of more rental power plants.

Naveed Qamar appealed the nation to cooperation with the government in terms of saving electricity by switching off extra lights and by informing the government about those who were involved in power theft.

He also appealed the media to play its role for public awareness as well as project the events positively for a good change in the society.

Earlier, he was briefed about the functioning of National Power Control Centre and informed that a state of the art system would soon be obtained for its modernization.

He reviewed the progress of recovery and the action taken against defaulters. He asked them to set up a special recovery cell in all the DISCOs at sub divisional level; there should be no complaint of over billing behind the recovery drive, he directed.

He asked PEPCO to monitor the recovery on daily basis and also directed DISCOs to send division wise recovery detail to him daily.

He warned strict action against CEOs if the running defaulters were not disconnected.

The minister expressed displeasure over slow pace of recovery by some DISCOs and asked them to improve it within days.

He also directed PEPCO to devise a new formula of load management keeping in view the recovery by DISCOs.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011