IESCO told to pay civic dues within seven days

IMC issues notice to power utility or face legal action

ISLAMABAD: The cash-strapped Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) has told the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) to pay back its outstanding dues worth Rs2.452 billion within a week or face coercive legal action.

According to the IMC, the power utility owes the corporation Rs2.452 billion for using open spaces within the municipal limits of the capital. In a notice sent to IESCO, the municipal body has given the utility seven days to pay the outstanding amount.

On failing to do so, the IMC warned IESCO that it would initiate legal action under section 49-A of the CDA ordinance 1960.

According to the IMC, the power utility has not paid its dues for using open spaces for its transformers and other equipment from July 2000 till June 2017. Further, it said that the IESCO never wrote explaining why it had failed to pay the dues. IMC said that a letter in this regard had already been sent to IESCO but no response was received.

The IMC Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA), in the show cause notice issued to the IESCO Deputy Manager (PMC), said that the power utility had one last opportunity to clear its outstanding dues within seven days or face legal action and even “coercive recovery measures which could include suspension of municipal services such as sewerage and water supply,” the letter read.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2017.