Suspension of electricity bills announced

Announcement comes in wake of hurdles in establishment of HESCO

ABBOTABAD:

WAPDA Hydro Union Hazara division on Monday announced the suspension of electricity bills in the region after the creation of hurdles in the establishment of Hazara Electric Supply Company (HESCO).

The WAPDA Hydro Workers Union in Hazara has demanded the filling of vacancies to overcome the shortage of workers. They presented their demands while protesting on International Workers' Day.

The union has threatened to stop the electricity bills and shut down work if their demands will not meet, after protest they also presented a memorandum to Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Murtaza Javed Abbasi.

Addressing the protest, WAPDA Hydro Workers Union representatives said that employees in HESCO are facing various issues. WAPDA employees are being forced to work for 24 hours due to the shortage of staff.

Talking about the workers of Chicago, they said that the workers have been successful in establishing 8-hour work shifts.

If more work is being taken from workers in Pakistan, it is not the responsibility of the system, but rather the trade unions representing the workers.

In the rally and protest, besides WAPDA workers, Sohail Anjum of PML-N, village chairman Salem Khan Tanoli, member of the Election Commission of All Traders Federation, Banaras Abbasi, and President of the Tehsil Lower Tanawal, Haroon Khan Tanoli, were also present.

The president of WAPDA Hydro Union Hazara, in his address, said that the loss incurred by electricity theft in Peshawar has been shifted to Hazara division.

There is no record of electricity bills on 12 feeders in Peshawar, and six illegal connections have been installed in a mosque in Peshawar, the line losses in Bannu have crossed 70%.

He said that the people of Hazara will benefit from HESCO, and there will be no load shedding. “Consumers will have affordable electricity according to the rates,” he said.

The president said that by producing electricity from dams in Hazara at the rate of quota. “All zones, including Hattar and Havailian, will receive electricity, which will promote the industry,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2023.