LAHORE, Dec 5: System losses have further been reduced by 0.9 per cent in the first four months against the target of 1.2 per cent for the current year and a substantial increase in billing has been achieved. This was said by Wapda Chairman Tariq Hamid while chairing a conference of the distribution companies (Discos) to review their performance at Wapda House, here on Monday.

The chairman was informed that billing of the past four months increased from Rs88 billion to Rs98 billion while an additional amount of Rs6.7 billion had been recovered during the first four months of fiscal year 2005-06 as compared to the corresponding period last year.

The meeting was also informed that work on the connections to tube-wells was proceeding as per schedule.

The chairman said work on electrification of villages should be carried out on priority basis as “we are committed to provide electricity to all by December 2007.”

Referring to his recent visit to Shorkot to inspect village electrification programme, he complemented the Discos for carrying out quality work. The chairman was informed that the target of electrifying 13,000 villages this year would be achieved.

The conference also discussed at length various proposals to augment Wapda’s drive to recover arrears. It was decided that the package announced by Wapda for recovery of arrears from the consumers who have been permanently disconnected for at least five years be extended till June 30, 2006 and that the steel melting industry be also included in this package.

The conference discussed in detail the complaints of inconvenience caused to the consumers due to shutdown for maintenance work. The chairman directed that maintenance work should not be carried out on Sundays.

The chairman complemented the Discos on their performance, especially with regard to reducing line losses and achieving revenue targets.

He appreciated the excellent work performed by the officers and field staff of Wapda in the quake-hit areas by restoring electricity in the minimum possible time and participating in the relief and rehabilitation efforts.

The conference was attended by member (power) Muhammad Anwer Khalid, member (finance) Imtiaz Anjum and senior managers of the Power Wing along with chief executive officers of NTDC and Discos. —APP