The chronic issue of consuming electricity beyond the ability to pay the bills by government departments, compelled the power utility to suspend their electricity supply.
Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (Iesco) after several warnings on Tuesday suspended power supply to the Pakistan Secretariat that houses almost all federal ministries and their affiliated departments for defaulting on payment of about Rs2 billion in arrears.
The secretariat which consists of rows of blocks of federal ministries and departments was practically closed for business after Iesco snapped their electricity supply. Most of the employees were seen camped outside their office blocks because they were unable to work.
An Iesco official requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune that electricity supply was disconnected to all blocks of the secretariat due to non-payment of Rs1.7 billion.
Block A, which has run up power bills of Rs3.6 million, houses the ministries of water and power, industries, petroleum and natural resources.
Iesco spokesperson Farooq Ahmed confirmed the move, stating the decision was taken in order to recover dues.
Interestingly, when Minister for Water and Power Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar arrived at his office in the morning, there was no electricity, but it was restored before he left.
Meanwhile, all the employees were forced to spend the day outside their respective offices without being able to do any official work.
Talking to media, Mukhtar said Iesco would take any step necessary to recover dues and there would be no compromise or leniency on the issue even if their own ministry was among the defaulters. “We know how to recover our dues,’’ he added.
Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Farkhand Iqbal could not escape the power cut as Iesco suspended electricity supply to his office due to non-payment of Rs8.3 million. An amount of Rs0.4 million is owed by the Estate Office located in Sector G-6/2.
Earlier on May 27, electricity supply to the CDA office was suspended for non-payment of Rs3 million. When approached, CDA spokesperson Masoodur Rehman confirmed that electricity was suspended due to non-payment of dues.
The civic body consumes huge electricity to operate streetlights and tubewells in the city, he said. Rehman claimed they would clear their dues very soon.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2012.
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