USAID Punjab Acting Director Gail Spence on Friday distributed certificates to managers from 9 power sector distribution companies (DISCOs) who completed a US-funded a five-day planning and engineering training programme. The USAID Power Distribution Program organised the training in collaboration with the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO). The aim of this programme was to modernise the Planning and Engineering (P&E) sectors of the DISCOs improving energy distribution across Pakistan. “I am confident that, thanks to this training, Pakistan will now be better able to meet its power sector reform targets and reduce the energy crisis,” Spence said. The United States has started a Power Distribution Programme in an attempt to aid Pakistan with its energy crisis. Through the Power Distribution Program, USAID is helping DISCOs modernise equipment, receive expert consultations, and introduce international best practices to ensure a more reliable supply of power to consumers. Congratulating the participants Spence said, “The United States works with the public-sector power distribution companies to improve their operations and reduce their losses, ultimately, ensuring that consumers have a more reliable supply of power.” Senior engineers from LESCO (Islamabad), PESCO (Peshawar), MEPCO (Multan), GEPCO (Gujranwala), FESCO (Faisalabad), LESCO (Lahore), HESCO (Hyderabad), QESCO (Quetta), and SEPCO (Sukkur) attended the five-day training. Others present at the occasion included: PDP Chief Technical Advisor Dick Dumford, PDP Deputy Chief of Party Saleem Arif and LESCO CEO Sharafat Ali Sayal (CEO LESCO).
