Water and Power Secretary Younas Dhaga on Thursday informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that electricity defaulters owe Rs 365 billion to the Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs).
The meeting of the PAC committee held under the Chairmanship of Syed Khursheed Shah examined the audit paras of Ministry of Water and Power and National Health Services and Regulations for the fiscal year of 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively.
During the meeting, the secretary said that most of the overbilling complaints have been lodged against the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO).
Complaints against meter images and their genuine reading have also been received, he added.
Committee Member Shafqat Mehmood also raised the issue of overbilling in the meeting. MNA Junaid Anwaar and other members alleged that the electricity theft was not possible without the involvement of officials of the concerned departments.
The Water and Power secretary also admitted that power pilferage is not possible without the department officials’ involvement.
PAC put off the matter of power pilfrige and over billing until the next meeting.
Secretary Younas Dhaga further told the committee that Nandipur Power Project would be converted to LPG by the end of the year as oil fueling was damaging the plant.
He said power generation through furnace oil costs around Rs 7 per unit.
The plant is producing 300 MW of electricity while its total capacity is 425 MW.
During the meeting, PAC Chairman Syed Khursheed Shah also sought a report on the recruitment made for management positions (MP) – MP-1, MP-2 and MP-3.
Khursheed Shah expressed displeasure and said they could not overlook embezzlements of billions of rupees in the appointments and contracts without issuing tenders and advertisements.
He said the scandal of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Islamabad was sufficient to wake everyone up.
Discussing the audit paras about the Ministry of Health Services and Regulations, the PAC chairman also expressed annoyance over the winding up of the enquiry against the National Council of Homeopathy by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Syed Khursheed Shah also asked the PAC Secretariat to write a letter to the Interior Ministry on the issue.
The Council of Homeopathy had illegally purchased a building worth Rs 50.6 million.
