KARACHI – The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has pinned the permanent reinstatement of over 4,000 workers on a Rs 1.79 per unit tariff increase as well as government institutions clearing the power utility’s outstanding dues, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Other demands forwarded by the KESC include the provision of cheaper electricity from WAPDA and ensuring the smooth supply of natural gas from the Sui Southern Company (SSGC), sources told Pakistan Today.
Much of Friday was spent by government authorities trying to negotiate the restoration of the sacked workers, but a late night meeting at the Governor’s House proved to be key in the resolution of the dispute. Earlier in the day, the Sindh Labour Department issued a notice to the KESC, seeking the reinstatement of over 4000 employees within three days.
A four-member committee, led by Power Minister Shazia Marri, was also constituted by Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah to probe the matter; other members include Rafeeq Engineer, Rashid Rabbani and Waqar Mehdi.
Later in the night, in what seemed to be a move to manipulate the government, KESC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tabish Gauhar informed Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, MQM leader Farooq Sattar and a four-member committee constituted by Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah that while the KESC could reinstate KESC workers for now, their permanent reinstatement was contingent on a higher tariff in order to offset the utility’s increased costs.
Sources told Pakistan Today that the governor, in turn, directed the KESC to postpone the matter of workers’ suspension till the completion of a report to be submitted to the Sindh government in an attempt to stymie the workers’ protest.
This report will be prepared by an eight-member committee within three days; the new team was constituted by the CM’s committee. The eight-member committee will detail all matters relating to the sacked employees and the interest of all stockholders, before submitting its report to the government.
Sources claimed that the sacked employees would be restored gradually while a decision will be announced in a press conference by KESC’s CEO and the CM’s committee.
Meanwhile, Sindh Labour Minister Ameer Nawab told Pakistan Today that the KESC illegally sacked thousands of employees without getting due permission from the concerned court. In case the KESC failed to reinstate these employees, he said, the department itself would move the courts against the KESC.
Nawab said that the KESC’s move to outsource various departments of the privately-run public utility without permission from concerned departments/courts was also in violation of rules.
Since the forcible sacking of such a large number of employees was against corporate rules, the department had given the KESC three days to reconsider its decision – which was purely a criminal act. He said that the provincial government has also demanded a justification from the KESC to sack thousands.
8 KESC opens Pandora’s Box for
government and consumers -Page 09
Why Consumer will bear the burden of KESC Employees, this is their internal matter
consumers are already facing the hardship of high tariff rates and load shedding
KESC management should have been evaluated the circumstances they will face in future.
at time of bidding the management should had been calculated the IRR and NPV
before investment because Govt in 2005 did nothing in Power Sector instead got rid off by selling KESC .
KESC management should focus on Power Theft to get maximum return and expose those are stealing electricity irrespective of his/her so called status in society
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