January 31, 2003	Friday	Ziqa’ad 27, 1423

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RAWALPINDI, Jan 30: The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) has cut off supply to the main office of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) and street lights in some areas for non-payment of dues.

The TMA owes Rs8.2 million bill to the company and has made no payment since June, 2002. The power suspension has brought all official works to a standstill and most of officers and other assisting staff are not attending their offices.

The Nazim was in his office for a short time but he did not bother in this regard.

Superintending Engineer Iesco, Rawalpindi, Habib Ali Bangash when asked about the reason for suspension of power to the TMA, said the civic body had defaulted on Rs8.2 million, failing to pay its bills since June 2002.

He said power won’t be restored unless the dues were cleared. Rather, he said, supply to the remaining installations would also be cut off within a few days.

“Supply to about one-third of the TMA installations has been suspended. In order to save the people from inconvenience, street lights, except in few areas, have been spared. If the pending dues are not paid within a few days, supply to the remaining installations will also be disconnected,” said Mr Bangash. He said a notice had also been issued to the TMA officials in this regard.

A TMA spokesman, Qazi Attaur-Rehman when contacted in this regard said they had nothing to do with the bills, as the finance department of the Punjab government directly made payment to Iesco on behalf of the TMA. We have written to both the Iesco and the Punjab government about the factual position, the spokesman added.

The spokesman, on the other hand, said the power company owed them Rs15 million, which it had received in excess of what was due to it.