Only three percent consumers pay for electricity: Wapda terms tribal people ''terrorists''

The Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) has termed tribal people ''terrorists'', and sought Federal Government''s help for protection of its employees and installations, sources in Interior Ministry told Business Recorder here on Tuesday.
The Cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, would discuss law and order situation in tribal areas as a special agenda item, sources said. "Tribal people are challenging the writ of the government, and threatening state installations. They want to avail the facilities, but are not prepared to fulfil their obligations," sources quoted Principal Staff Officer to Wapda Chairman, Brigadier Mukhtar Ahmad, as saying in a letter to Major Imtiaz Elahi Paracha, Deputy Director (Operations) in Ministry of Interior.
Wapda is supplying about 450 MW power per day to tribal areas, but recovery of bills is effected only from 3 percent of the consumers. Wapda''s total outstanding arrears against its tribal consumers are to the tune of Rs 63 billion, and every month another billion is added to its losses, sources added.
"It is justified to ask the people of the tribal areas as to why terrorists should expect better service unless they are prepared to pay their utility bills which are already heavily subsidised," sources quoted the Wapda official as stating in the letter.
The letter, titled ''Resentment of Taliban NW Agency'', has also been addressed to Secretary, Water and Power, Member, Power, Wapda, Pesco CEO and Tesco CEO for necessary action. With regard to security of installations, Wapda has requested Interior Ministry that law enforcing agencies should be instructed to protect Wapda employees and its installations.
Sources said that the federal government and Wapda are jointly making every effort to recover the long outstanding arrears from tribal people, but all in vain so far, and now the situation is very critical in the tribal areas.