NA panel seeks domiciles of all discos BoDs

Body told 72 illegal hydrants in Karachi paying extortion money of Rs720m

NA panel seeks domiciles of all discos BoDs
NA panel seeks domiciles of all discos BoDs

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges has sought from the Power Division the domiciles and other details of the board of directors (BoDs) of the power distribution companies (Discos) across the country so that people from the area where the company is located are hired.

The NA panel met under the chairmanship of Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon on Thursday.

The committee members objected to the 21-point agenda to which Noon assured them of a shorter plan next time.

Noon observed that the MNAs faced most problems from the Discos and that they had “annoyed people even more than the police”.

Deliberating on issues, Fesco CEO Bashir Ahmed maintained that the department was short of cash and they had allowed the customers to buy the transformer on their own.

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Ghulam Bibi Bharwana complained that despite raising the issue several times, she was not guided how to read and comprehend the electricity bill and how additional units were included in it.

Meanwhile, the committee chairman stressed that people should be employed from the area where the company is located. He questioned how people from Karachi were working in the Multan power distribution company.

The panel sought the domiciles and other details of the BoDs of Discos across the country from the Power Division.

He directed that every power distribution company should ensure provisioof 25kV transformers to the farmers, overcome shortage of metres and guarantee power supply to new settlements.

He further instructed that the chief of every Disco should meet the concerned MNAs on monthly basis and that the issues of people and the constituency be resolved.

On MNA Fahim Khan’s privilege motion against Karachi Water Board, the committee was told that currently 72 illegal water hydrants existed in the metropolis which were paying an extortion money of Rs720 million.