Delay to fill vacant posts in energy firms may cause power crisis this summer
Over 100 posts vacant in power firms
PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
A delay in the appointment of 121 high officers on vacant posts in the power sector has increased the chances of severe electricity crisis in the upcoming summer across the country.
Instead of 219 officers, only 98 are running the system in 10 power distribution companies as the remaining positions have been vacant for the past one and a half year. This came despite approval to promote 61 officers to the higher position of superintendent engineer and chief engineer.
Owing to this, the operational matters at the distribution companies have been affected adversely while work on development projects has also suffered delay.
There are 19 positions of general manager in the distribution companies, of which only seven have been filled and others are vacant. Of the 55 positions for Grade-20 chief engineers, 10 are vacant while 70 out of 145 positions for superintendent engineers are vacant.
For promotion, the board interviewed 76 executive engineers on August 18, 2018 of which promotion of 42 was approved. Similarly, on October 13, 2018, the board approved promotion of 19 to the position of chief engineer.
These officers were asked for their asset details, however, the notification for their promotion never came, due to which operational and development work in the distribution companies was being severely affected.
Energy Secretary Irfan Ali told The Express Tribune that due to the lack of human resources, the distribution companies should be permitted to hire people to fill the vacant posts.
He said the promotion notification was not issued because of a stay order from court. He pointed out that Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) had been directed to get the stay order withdrawn after which the notification for the promotion of officers would be issued.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2019.
A delay in the appointment of 121 high officers on vacant posts in the power sector has increased the chances of severe electricity crisis in the upcoming summer across the country.
Instead of 219 officers, only 98 are running the system in 10 power distribution companies as the remaining positions have been vacant for the past one and a half year. This came despite approval to promote 61 officers to the higher position of superintendent engineer and chief engineer.
Owing to this, the operational matters at the distribution companies have been affected adversely while work on development projects has also suffered delay.
There are 19 positions of general manager in the distribution companies, of which only seven have been filled and others are vacant. Of the 55 positions for Grade-20 chief engineers, 10 are vacant while 70 out of 145 positions for superintendent engineers are vacant.
For promotion, the board interviewed 76 executive engineers on August 18, 2018 of which promotion of 42 was approved. Similarly, on October 13, 2018, the board approved promotion of 19 to the position of chief engineer.
These officers were asked for their asset details, however, the notification for their promotion never came, due to which operational and development work in the distribution companies was being severely affected.
Energy Secretary Irfan Ali told The Express Tribune that due to the lack of human resources, the distribution companies should be permitted to hire people to fill the vacant posts.
He said the promotion notification was not issued because of a stay order from court. He pointed out that Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) had been directed to get the stay order withdrawn after which the notification for the promotion of officers would be issued.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 17th, 2019.