Sindh CM wants KE to improve system, reduce load-shedding

Power utility chairman says recent breakdown was due to storm in rural areas

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has advised K-Electric (KE) to improve its system to ensure smooth supply of power during the ongoing summer season.

In a meeting with KE management, he said that the company should have improved its system before the summer season, which did not happen. In response, KE Chairman Waqar Siddiqui said that the distribution system has been improved by replacing and adding new cables. The recent major breakdown was the result of a storm in rural areas of the province, which brought down the [supply] towers.

The meeting was also attended by KE CEO Tayyab Tareen, Director External Asmar Naeem and Chief Marketing Officer Fakhar Ahmed. Principal Secretary to CM Sohail Rajput, Energy Secretary Agha Wasif, and Local Government Secretary Ramzan Awan were also among those present at the meeting.

Shah said that apart from the major breakdown, there are serious complaints of load-shedding that must be reduced to a minimum. He also looked to address the issue of overbilling against which political parties have also made a hue and cry.

The chief minister said that the industrialists are also complaining of load-shedding. “I would suggest you to rationalise load-shedding in industrial and residential areas,” he said, urging KE to take necessary measures to reduce load-shedding to a negligible level during Ramazan.

He said that load-shedding at water pumps further aggravated issues as it deprived the people of electricity and water. To this, the KE CEO told the minister that the KWSB pumping station was being provided electricity from the feeders, which are load-shedding free. Shah also expressed hope of ensuring electricity to villages located at the outskirts of the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2017.

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