Arrears: Tesco reeling under pressure of unpaid dues

Elections to determine Collective Bargaining Agent held across the province.

PESHAWAR: Tribal Areas Electricity Supply Company (Tesco) has more than Rs878 million worth of dues against 13 major government departments in the tribal areas till end-April 2013, The Express Tribune learnt on Wednesday.

Of the total arrears, Rs40.97 million is owed by Cadet College Razmak, Rs49.52 million by offices of deputy commissioners, Rs37.99 million by Garrison Engineers, Rs36.53 million by militia scouts, Rs68.37 million by Frontier Corps and Rs59.29 million by offices of political agents in the tribal areas.

In addition, the education department owes Rs37.58 million, the health department Rs72.21 million, work and services Rs113 million, water management department Rs226.97 million, Frontier Constabulary Rs17.78 million, irrigation and power department Rs104.14 million and Agriculture Engineering department of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Fata Rs13.89 million.

Confirming that outstanding dues have not been paid for several months, Tesco spokesperson Anwar Khan said the departments have been asked to clear their dues at the earliest as the company cannot bear additional burden of arrears.



Tesco CEO Pervez Khankhel Swati has directed all field formations to recover the outstanding dues from the mentioned government departments by June 2013, said the spokesperson. “Failing to do so will result in disconnection of lines,” he added.

Meanwhile, elections to appoint the Collective Bargaining Agent (CBA) were held in Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) offices across the province on Wednesday.

Hydro Electric Labour Union and Central Pegham Union are contesting the elections for CBA after Islamabad High Court directed the National Industrial Relation Commission to decide on one body that will represent Wapda employees across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 30^th, 2013.