Sharjeel censures HESCO for long outages

The Senior Sindh minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Monday lacerated Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) for tormenting citizens by carrying out day long outages even during hot and humid days.

Talking to the media at Rawal House in Hyderabad on Monday, Sharjeel deplored that up to 20 hours of outages are being inflicted on the citizens which is 'causing widespread suffering'.

He criticised what he described as 'poor performance' of the power distribution companies. He asked the federal government to hold these power companies accountable and provide relief to the people.

Commenting on the collective punishment regime which is under implementation since 2017, the provincial minister said the companies should punish the power thieves alone and not the bill paying consumers. In 2017 HESCO announced that its load shedding timings for each of its electricity feeders will be based on recovery of utility bills.

Not only feeders, but even the pole mounted transformers will lower recoveries also face disconnection to the detriment and dismay of the bill paying consumers. He asked the distribution company to discontinue the practice of collective punishment.