Recovering arrears: PESCO, TESCO targeted over power cuts

With over Rs300 million in dues, power supply suspended to over a dozen villages.

PESHAWAR: Two missiles were fired at the Tribal Electric Supply Company’s (Tesco) grid station in Orakzai Agency on Monday night.

Tesco spokesperson Anwar Khan said that one of the missiles caused minor damages to the building, but the power supply was not disrupted.

Since the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) has started suspending electricity to defaulters, there has been an increase in targeted attacks and kidnappings of Tesco employees in retaliation.

Last week, Line Superinten-dent Javed Iqbal and his driver Rahim Jan were kidnapped from South Waziristan. They were recovered a few days ago.

While addressing a ceremony held in honour of the recovered employees, Tesco CEO Pervez Khankhel Swati claimed that the kidnappings were in reaction to the dues recovery campaign that the company has started in tribal areas.

Electricity cuts in villages

On Tuesday, Pesco in Southern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) disconnected power supply to over a dozen villages, which had outstanding dues amounting to Rs300 million.

To address the security risk, Swati has asked for security and support of political authorities prior to their operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Tank Executive Engineer Ishtiaq Ali Shah said that power supply had been disconnected in Shah Alam, Pattan Kot and Akbar Khan Korona Tank owing to non-payment of Rs70 million arrears. “Pesco cannot afford to provide free electricity,” he said.

In Lakki Marwat, several villages including Takhti Khel, Langar Khel, Bego Khel and Talab Khel were cut off from power supply for unpaid bills amounting to Rs30 million.

Meanwhile, villages in district Karak had electricity supply cut off after their dues accumulated to Rs200 million.

In Abbottabad, power supply to the agriculture, police, health, education department was cut off. An Afghan refugee camp, a railway station in Haripur and Cantonment Board Havalian are also without electricity since Tuesday.

Furthermore, supply to the education and health departments in Peshawar was suspended. The departments owe Rs100 million.

Pesco spokesperson Shaukat Afzal confirmed the company’s move and said electricity will be suspended to all defaulting villages and government departments across the province.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 24^th, 2012.