NAB, PESCO initiate recovery drive in Shabqadar

Marble factory, textile units disconnected due to non-payment.

SHABQADAR: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) on Wednesday launched a recovery drive against defaulters in Shabqadar Circle area with assistance from the National Accountablity Bureau (NAB).

Pesco Executive Engineer in Shabqadar, Fazal Samad said the decision came after the power company reported surmounting losses. A list of hundreds of defaulters, including major industrial establishments, was shared with NAB to recover unpaid dues.

Consequently, a NAB team accompanied by Pesco officials pulled the plug on a marble factory in Subhan Khwar industrial zone which owes more than Rs1.5 million in unpaid electricity bills. A collection of small textile units in Daryab Karana area that collectively owe up to Rs8.416 million were also disconnected, said Samad.

All defaulters, including industrial, commercial and government consumers owing hundreds of thousands of rupees will be dealt with strictly and could be arrested by NAB if they fail to clear their dues, he added.

Pesco has recovered about Rs2.4 million is outstanding dues from candidates contesting in the general elections. Wasif Ullah Khan, a candidate contesting from NA-8 Charsadda, paid Rs1.58 million alone, said Samad, adding individuals who do not pay up will face imprisonment and their property will also be seized.

The Frontier Constabulary also made it to the defaulters list and Pesco in Shabqadar has recovered Rs1 million so far. But the FC still owes more than Rs2 million, which it will pay in installments, maintained Samad.

“We have also involved local elders in the recovery drive and they are cooperating with us, he said. If someone fails to clear their dues, they will no longer enjoy electricity,” said Samad, claiming their efforts against illegal power connections will continue relentlessly in the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2013.