ISLAMABAD: The Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) has yet to receive Rs 28 billion from the federal and provincial government on account of power differential subsidy. The Senate Standing Committee on Water and Power met under the chairmanship of Mir Lashkari Raisani to discuss the problems faced by WAPDA for uninterrupted supply of electricity in Balochistan.
The meeting was informed that the power theft had increased in the province due to the law and order situation. The officials of Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) informed that their total outstanding dues against federal and provincial government were Rs 28 billion. The committee recommended that the provincial government should immediately release 40 percent of the total outstanding amount to QESCO. CEO QESCO said that the law and order situation in the province was hampering in the provision of smooth power supply as 193 incidents of sabotage occurred during the last 7 years, in which electric towers were blown throughout the province. He said five employees were martyred due to land mines.
He elaborated by informing the committee that the province had 4975 illegal tubewell connections and it was impossible to disconnect these connections due to law and order situation. He said that the provincial government was not providing adequate security in time thus causing a delay in commencing rehabilitation work.
Chief Secretary Balochistan assured that security would be provided to the officials of Water and Power Ministry within 24 hours. A committee was constituted for the formulation of standard operating procedure for safe working and early restoration of electricity supply in the province.
The Minister for Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said that after the passage of 18th amendment, the provinces were empowered to construct their own power projects but they lacked the capacity to initiate power projects more than 50 MW in size. He added that to curtail power theft, the government had initiated smart meter project for industries in Lahore and Islamabad.
