National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): The Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
was informed on Wednesday that in spite of getting a hefty subsidy
of Rs. 250 billion during last five years, Karachi Electric (KE) has
deprived the poor of electricity while posh areas were receiving power
without break.
The Committee, met with Leader of the Opposition in National
Assembly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah in chair, was also apprised
that KE had not even audited its accounts.
Members of National Assembly, Syed Naveed Qamar, Mian Abdul
Manan, Sheikh Rohail Asghar, Raja Javed Ikhlas, Sardar Ashiq Gopang,
Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Shahida Akhtar Ali, Sahibzada Nazir Sultan, Junaid
Anwar Chaudhry, Rana Muhammad Afzaal, Secretary Petroleum and
Natural Resources, Arshad Mirza, Secretary Water and Power, Muhammad
Younas Dagha and other senior officials attended the meeting.
Regarding audit objections of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Resources for year 2013-14, the PAC was informed that KE owes
Rs. 65 billion dues to Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL).
Khursheed Shah said it was quite surprising that despite
huge amount of subsidy from the government, KE failed to pay the dues to
the SSGCL.
Naveed Qamar said people of Sindh were facing miseries due to load-
shedding as power supply to four Union Councils in the province
was cut off without ascertaining the reasons.
Younas Dagha informed that KE has taken around Rs. 50 billion from
Sindh government of which Rs. 42 billion dues were from Karachi Water and
Sewerage Board.
He said that KE has their own stance about dues of SSGCL, saying
it would pay to SSGCL if the Sindh government pays their dues in time.
“It was not an easy decision for any government to stop provision
of gas to the KE. Check and balance system was not devised during
privatization of KE,” he added.
Khursheed Shah directed the Ministry of Water and Power that no
power purchase agreement should be made with KE till audit of its accounts.
On the issue of disconnecting electricity in Members National
Assembly Hostel last night, Chief Executive Officer of
Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) informed that the hostel
defaults Rs. 26 million.
Khursheed Shah said members would move privilege motion on
the matter in parliament and asked the Ministry to provide list of
those Senators and MNAs who did not pay their dues.
He also directed the Ministry to provide information that
power connections given in Hostel were of individual or bulk nature.
Mian Abdul Manan showed concern over the issue and said sometime
the MNAs had not received bills on time and pay their dues with fine.
He said before disconnecting the electricity, the official of
IESCO should have asked the parliamentarians and issued notices but
regrettably this was not pursued.