A team of the USAID Power Distribution Program visited Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) to discuss with PESCO’s CEO Brig. (Rtd) Tariq Saddozai and senior management USAID’s ongoing projects for the distribution company. The projects undertaken by the USAID Power Distribution Program for PESCO were also discussed.
The USAID Power Distribution Program team along with PESCO officials then inspected the newly arrived rickshaws and network maintenance equipment for PESCO supported by USAID.
Under the Change Management Project of USAID Power Distribution Program, PESCO has been provided eight (8) rickshaws and network maintenance equipment to help improve the performance of PESCO linemen in Peshawar’s city division. The division has consumers located in very congested streets where other vehicles cannot go therefore the use of the USAID provided rickshaws will help in speedy service to consumers.
The project aims to revive standard network maintenance practices through improved methods and equipment to fix anomalies, resulting in losses and safety concerns. In addition, the Program’s Change Management Project aims to improve the operational processes related with compliant handling and performance management by applying better methods and communication tools provided by USAID.
Brig. Saddozai thanked and greatly appreciated the assistance provided by USAID to PESCO under its Power Distribution Program and expressed his wishes for strengthening cooperation between USAID and PESCO on its metering project, linemen safety trainings, capacity building and organizational and institutional development of PESCO and its officers and staff.
He further stated that the key requirement of PESCO was presently institutional improvement through capacity building and training and requested USAID to assist in that through its Power Distribution Program.
The USAID team also appreciated the support of both PESCO’s CEO and its management and the ongoing developments at PESCO, including the campaign against electricity theft and efforts to reduce both technical and non-technical losses.
The four and a half year USAID Power Distribution Program was announced by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2009 as among the United States’ efforts to support the Government of Pakistan in reforming the power sector to mitigate the current energy crisis.
The Program is helping government-owned electric power distribution companies (DISCOs) improve their commercial performance in reducing losses, increasing revenues and improving customer services through the introduction of new technology and improved work practices.
