KARACHI, Nov 17: The matter relating to payment of KESC dues came under consideration at a meeting held under the chairmanship of acting chief secretary, Ghulam Sarwar Khero, here on Monday.

It was decided that the provincial government departments, against which the KESC dues were outstanding, would be issued notices by the finance department to make payment of the same within a week.

The meeting decided that the dues pending against home department would be cleared by the finance department. However, in case of non-payment by the water board, the KESC would take steps at its own by issuing legal notice to water board and disconnecting their electricity.

Regarding the dues against towns, the city government would issue notices to them for clearing the same.

In the meeting, the city government representative was directed to take steps for payment of dues of Rs109 million within a week.

Addressing the meeting, the acting chief secretary referred to dues against labour department and suggested the KESC to approach the Sindh Workers Welfare Board for the recovery of dues concerning Labour Colonies.

The KESC Managing Director said that in case a bill was disputed, the concerned department could make 50 per cent payment. The acting chief secretary directed that reconciliation process should be ensured to settle the billing disputes. He agreed that there would be no harm if 50 per cent payment of such bills were made.

The meeting decided to remove the billing objections of Saddar and Keamari towns. It renewed its earlier decision that electricity of High Court, wireless installations and hospitals would not be disconnected. However, the KESC demanded payment of huge arrears against police department.

According to documents produced in the meeting, dues amounting to Rs543 million were outstanding against KWSB till 2003, Rs10.92 million against city government, Rs567 million against 18 towns and Rs181 million against different departments of the provincial government. —APP