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KARACHI, April 19: Power consumers on Thursday continued to suffer due to intermittent power suspensions in different areas of the metropolis.
Many complained of irresponsible attitude of the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation’s staff at complaint cells and added that consumers were repeatedly misguided about the timings of power restoration. A number of complainants said owing to load-shedding, water to their localities was also not supplied.
Complaints were received from DHA Phase-5 Khayaban-i-Badban, Phase-1, Clifton Block 4, Zamzama, Gulshan-i-Iqbal Blocks 10-A, 12, 14, 4, Federal B Area Blocks 12, 17, 20, North Karachi Power House, Raja Tanveer Colony Orangi Town, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Baghdadi, Lyari, Dastagir, Hasan Square, Clayton Quarters, Old Sabzi Mandi and Karachi University.
A KESC spokesman said at present WAPDA was supplying 500 megawatts power to the utility and the total shortfall was 200 MW. He said the current power demand was about 2250 mw and the supply was 2040 mw, which could only be overcome if WAPDA supplied 700 mw to KESC.
SIEMENS’ POSITION: Meanwhile, Siemens Pakistan, in a statement has clarified its position regarding its involvement in KESC matters. It said the company had helped in privatisation of the power utility in the national interest and contracted for operational management responsibilities to assist the owners in the turnaround of the utility.
Siemens had the mandate to suggest policies to bring KESC departments in line with international practices, which it did, the statement added.
It said substantial improvements were made like the complete refurbishment of Bin Qasim Power Station, which has resulted in an additional production of 300 megawatts.
It pointed out that it has been working successfully in the region and has established 18 grid stations which, it claimed, testified to the competence of Siemens in the field and should put to rest speculation about its inability to carry out work assigned to it by KESC.
GOVERNOR: Governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan has asked KESC authorities to take immediate steps for overcoming the power crisis and stressed that work on the new Haroonabad transmission substation should be completed by April 27.
Presiding over a meeting at Governor House on Thursday, he directed KESC officials to minimise the duration of load-shedding.
He also emphasised upon officials of WAPDA to supply the required power to the KESC.
