Junior officers deputed to DISCOs amid soaring debt

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government has assigned junior officers to various power distribution companies (Discos) with an array of perks and privileges despite the fact that they are drowning in circular debt.

These junior officials of Grade 17 have been appointed to their positions, and as a result, they will now be entitled to handsome salaries and a host of other benefits, including vehicles and accommodations, all at the expense of Discos.

A notification has been issued directing the BS-17 officers of the Pakistan Administrative Service to report to the companies for a period of 60 days on an attachment basis as special duty, effective immediately.

The notification requested the respective provincial governments and Islamabad Capital Territory administration to relieve the officers immediately with the direction to report to the Disco concerned within 48 hours.

The period of 60 days will commence with effect from the date of reporting to the respective Disco and these officers shall report back to their places of posting after the expiry of that period.

Read:Power companies crack down on electricity theft

The federal government said that salaries and TA/DA of the officers during the period of attachment shall be borne by the respective provincial governments and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration as these officers were not being transferred from their current places of posting.

“The Power Division is requested to kindly issue necessary instructions to the quarters concerned for provision of adequate lodging and transport, etc to these officers during their attachment,” the government said.

Recently, the energy minister had said during an interview on a private TV channel that Discos will be given to the private sector on long-term contract.

However, the government will retain the ownership. He said that Rs17 billion had been collected in the last 10 days from those who were not paying.

He added that after adjustment, the circular debt is Rs3 to 3.5 trillion and cash-based adjustment was not approved for clearing it.

In November, “we will have a roadmap to resolve this circular debt stock”. He added that Rs589 billion loss was reported due to theft and other losses.

In this situation, the federal government wanted to hand over Discos to the provinces due to inefficiencies and power theft.

However, now, the federal government had attached junior officers with Discos who would be enjoying perks and privileges. This is despite the fact that the Power Division had a desk to deal with Discos.

Additionally, the situation was worse due to the politically motivated appointment of the board of directors of Discos.

These political appointees were more concerned about the schemes of electrifying villages to get votes in upcoming elections rather than giving valuable inputs to bring efficiency and reduction in power theft in Discos.

The losses of Discos were the major cause that led to increasing circular debt which had plagued the entire energy chain in the country. The government had recently considered reconstituting the existing board of directors of Discos and sought the legal opinion of the Law Division.

But it could be beyond the mandate of the caretaker government as the Election Commission of Pakistan could intervene in changing boards.
The energy ministry’s comments were sought over the development but no response was received till the filling of the news story.