PESCO employees protest outside Abbottabad Press Club against the provincial government’s potential takeover of the company. PHOTO: ONLINE
Employees of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) organised a rally on Wednesday in protest against the provincial government’s potential takeover of Pesco.
The demonstration started from Pesco divisional headquarters in Abbottabad. Employees of all levels boycotted work and participated in the march, carrying placards against “the privatisation of Pesco” and “the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government’s demand to take over” the supply company.
The protesters reached Abbottabad Press Club where a union leader, Jamil Akhtar, condemned the move. “The federal government’s decision of giving control of Pesco to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s government will expose thousands of employees to administrative and fiscal problems,” said Akhtar.
The provincial rulers do not have prior experience or the capacity to take over such a big organisation, especially its generation and distribution apparatus, claimed the union leader.
Zahid, another union leader, claimed if the takeover transpires, Pesco employees will launch large-scale protests.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2014.
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we do not want to be under provincial government bcz they will be asking to perform better. we are good under present arrangement as the job is easy and lucrative. who want to loose?
@Nida Alvi Parachinar is a federal area under the jurisdiction of Fed Govt, Madam its for your kind information to be helpful in future
@Nida Alvi:
"Lets put it this way>>> A large bucket has a hole in it and 36% of the water is always leaked out but a child still insists that the bucket needs not be fixed but he should be given the control of the entire water tank."
WRONG!!!!!!. A federal government agency (PESCO) provides electricity to KPK, PESCO itself (which means federal gov) is responsible for collection of bills as of right now. You are implying that it is provincial governments job to collect the bills.
Back to your own analogy. It is not the child's fault that there is a hole in the bucket. So provincial government (the Child) is asking federal gov to fix the hole ( clear balance sheet and liabilities) before handing over control of the bucket as a minimum requirement.
better you work now unions leader otherwise face the repurcussions
There is rampant corruption in PESCO, did any one know that these employees of this company don't have any electric meters on theirs and their family homes, I have witnessed it first hand, one of my relatives complained to me that he was not paid enough salary so this perk or stealing was justified. I told this relative of mine that no body was forcing him to work for PESCO, go get a well paid job with some other organization, he is still working for them with the same perks.Perhaps PTI could cut this crap out and make them honest workers, and that is what bothering them.While we are at it, State owned banks should also be privatized, look what the elite class has done to them.
the union leader is implying that the common employee will bear the burnt of the corruption burden of superiors. The administrative and managers corrupt deeds over the years got you here...and to show profit the new master will reduce employee.
These union guys know if PESCO is taken over by KPK govt, they have to work which they do not want.
@ Ok Lets put it this way>>> A large bucket has a hole in it and 36% of the water is always leaked out but a child still insists that the bucket needs not be fixed but he should be given the control of the entire water tank. If you accept this child's "innocent" demand you will definitely end up wastage more & more water rather create huge shortage of water in the entire locality! A basic rule of management is to fix the problem at hand rather than hankering to take everything in your control. The message is pretty clear for those having common sense.
@Nida Alvi: You make no sense. You are just assuming things
One of the issues is pesco is the entity known to consumers. What if federal closes he supply of electricity?? Who will be blamed for that? Pesco ofcourse. Even of kpk gov manages to control corruption and losses they will always have the nawaz league dagger hanging above their head. And that dagger will be used when the opposition ( which is the federal govt as it is against the people) finds it bwfeicial. So no. It can't be only distribution
@ MAD It proves the fact that PTI & its pseudo-intellectuals have yet no comprehension of the real problem. PESCO has the line losses at more than 36% (highest among all 4 provinces in Pakistan), which implies that roughly out of every 100 users, 36 are not paying for the electricity they consume. When the government shuts the electricity supplies to areas with high losses, the provincial government of PTI starts playing politics and instead of assisting in recoveries it sides with the defaulters. The recent examples are Bannu, Karak & Parachinar where a large majority does not pay the electricity dues at all. Even in the 22 power feeders in the surrounding areas of Peshawar, PESCO faces 90% power theft. There are certain localities, including Chagarmati, where the theft is as high as 99%. On the other hand, distribution companies like FESCO, GEPCO, IESCO, LESCO etc have line losses well below 5%. The consumers of these distribution, paying their bills regularly, must not be made to bear the loss inflicted by the power-thieves of PESCO. . GENERATION is a different subject, though part of the supply chain. The mega dams have been constructed through borrowings from World Bank, IDA and Islamic Development Bank etc, which are backed by SOVEREIGN GUARANTEES, and the liabilities (including operational & financial costs) have been (and are being) paid by the Federal Government. The Government also pays royalties to the respective provincial governments on certain resources. In order to provide electricity to all 12 DISCOs, the Government works on optimal energy mix (which was hitherto skewed towards expensive oil during Mush & PPP regimes). The Government is creating incentivized environment (including sovereign guarantees, where required) for exploring alternate energy resources including solar power, wind power & nuclear power. The recent forthcoming Chinese investment in nuclear power plants in Karachi is one such example. . If the KPK Government is so interested in power generation, it should start its own projects just like Punjab Government has done in Nandipur & Chicho Ke Malian adding more than 900MW to the National Grid. Otherwise, it will be once again proven that PTI is good for nothing except to create nuisance value!
@Nida Alvi: Distribution without generation + No electricity. Surely you dont need help to figure that out.
@Nida Alvi: I see from where you are coming.
@Lobster: Energy department of United States of America will collect bills from KPK, is that so?
The federal government’s demand is perfectly reasonable: show yourself capable of running the toughest part of the electricity system (distribution) before asking to manage the easiest part (generation). If PESCO only had to pay for hydroelectric power, its profit margins would be so large that it would have absolutely no incentive to take any action against electricity theft. That would be tantamount to a subsidy for people who steal electricity in K-P, paid for by law-abiding citizens everywhere, including those in other provinces. In the name of provincial rights, the PTI is effectively asking for a freebie. The party should be careful in making such demands. Its voters in other provinces are unlikely to take kindly to higher bills for no reason.
@ itsmeK @ Charlie Chaplen @ Bilal @ Abid @ Lobster If we assume that what you are saying is correct then why the PTI Government in KPK is dragging it's feet in taking the control of PESCO?? As usual, PTI is coming up with lame excuses to avoid the responsibility of Electricity Bills collection from the defaulters.
As per the democratic norms, majority of workers are PTI voters. Am I right?
@Ch. Allah Daad: Who told you its provincial gov responsibility to collect bills? Oh I see..your prejudice
This protest is all the more reason why KP govt. should take over PESCO. At least to give these corrupt and lazy employees a hard time if nothing else.
Everyone is afraid of accountability. Even the poor themselves. They all are doing something they shouldnt be doing.
I am a KPK resident and in favour of complete handover of PESCO to provincial government. These lazy and corrupt employees of PESCO need a stick for their poor performance. They send us huge bills without even checking our meters. Only purpose of this rally is to continue their laziness in future.
Its interesting to note that KPK government has conditioned the taking over of PESCO with Federal Government assuming all the defaults carried and thus handing them over a "clean" balance sheet. This speaks volumes about the ability of KPK administration to take harsh political decision. I personally prefer that all the DESCOs should be handed over to their respective provincial administrations (which, then would decide whether they want to hold it or privatize it). And any Power defaults then should be deducted straight from the divisible pool of funds earmarked for respective provinces. This would not only free us from chronic circular debt but will also serve as a means for creating discipline in the power distribution.
Well it is evident that corruption has swept PESCO at all levels, that is why they fear if provincial govt takes over, their "side business" of taking money to look the other way will get serious damage or worse they might have to do actual work. This is the other face of Pakistan !
Just because of this NON SERIOUS ATTITUDE of workers PESCO is standing way behind, LAYOFF all these people and hire those who want to work.
This is no less than a vote of no confidence by the ppl of KP on PTI govt in 7 months time
@ch.Allah Daad The bills are supposed to be collected by PESCO, a federal govt organisation. The big defaulters are FATA ppl, administered by the federal govt.
@Ch. Allah Daad:
Dude your comments literally make no sense to any one. What about Central Govt's failure ? and loadshedding in lahore i live for 6 hours everyday in winter and no GAS.
They know that Govt. of KPK will hold them accountable and make sure that they perform their job to level.
only afraid of doing job properly like happens in private companies...
Subhan Allah!
hummm....its not rocket science to understand why these guys are protesting. Days of laziness are numbered.
People of KP have lost complete faith in their provincial government. It's so incompetent that it cannot do a simple task of collecting bills.
I think union are correct that it will be a problem for them and their members. They know that Govt. of KPK will hold them accountable and make sure that they perform their job.
This face of PAKISTAN I hate the most!