Earlier, the court had suggested that the provincial governments should start collecting electricity bills and take steps to minimise the power losses after getting the electricity in bulk. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Supreme Court goes a step forward with the suggestion that the provinces should purchase electricity in bulk and advance payments should be made to the federal government through deductions from their respective shares in National Finance Commission (NFC) award and issued notices to the chief secretaries of the four provinces to seek their response on the idea.
“If the mismanagement in the affairs of generation of electricity, distribution and in collection of bills, including the prevention of power theft, are taken care of, the problem of load-shedding could be brought under control,” observed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while hearing the case of load-shedding.
A three-judge SC bench issued notices to the chief secretaries asking them to submit their response either themselves or through their lawyers and adjourned the hearing for two weeks.
The bench put off the hearing after Attorney General of Pakistan Munir A Malik asked the court to wait for the announcement of a comprehensive energy policy by the federal government as the authorities have been pondering to privatise the electricity distribution companies besides taking other steps.
In the last hearing, the court had suggested that the provincial governments should start collecting electricity bills and take steps to minimise the power losses after getting the electricity in bulk from Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and making advance payments.
On Monday, the bench, also comprising Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Gulzar Ahmed, hinted at giving the recovery of bills of natural gas to the provinces as the gas distribution companies had not been successful in controlling the gas theft and making swift recoveries.
Besides issuing notices to Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGPL) the bench asked the federal finance secretary to appear before the court on the next date of hearing and explain the government’s stance and position on the suggestion.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 2nd, 2013.
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Kpk has lowest collection rate.