Third-party validation of subsidised tubewells: PD and QESCO at loggerheads over funds

ISLAMABAD: The Power Division and the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) are said to be at loggerheads over the release of funds for third-party validation of subsidized agricultural tubewells, as the distribution company has flagged several discrepancies in the consultant’s report.

On October 28, 2025, the Power Division directed all DISCOs to release funds to ICore Business Solutions. In response, QESCO has submitted that, under Clause VI of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Government of Pakistan (GoP) and the Government of Balochistan (GoB) regarding the solarization of agricultural tube wells (ATWs) in Balochistan, the GoB is responsible for engaging a consulting firm—upon clearance from the Steering Committee—for third-party verification of solarisation, grid disconnection, documentation and undertakings, and removal of transformers and fixtures by QESCO for each batch of feeders.

The MoU further states that the cost of this service will be borne by the GoP and GoB in the agreed ratio, and that work on a subsequent batch may begin only after the third-party verification report confirms compliance for the preceding one.

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The GoB is also required to present the verification report for each batch before the Steering Committee during its monthly meeting or upon completion of that batch, whichever occurs first.

Following this agreement, the GoB engaged ICore Business Solutions, which later shared three provisional field verification reports—Release-1, Release-2, and Release-3—with QESCO.

However, sources claim that QESCO was neither consulted nor taken on board by ICore Business Solutions during the verification process. They contend that, contrary to the MoU’s requirements, the GoB has not presented verification reports for each feeder batch before the Steering Committee. Field checks by QESCO also revealed that the third party visited only a limited number of locations in Quetta and Pishin.

Furthermore, QESCO identified several discrepancies in the three provisional reports (D1, D2, and D3). These concerns have been formally conveyed to ICore Business Solutions, with copies also forwarded to the Energy Department of the Government of Balochistan. QESCO maintains that it has still not received the complete and final third-party validation report.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025