September 16, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 15, 1429

KARACHI, Sept 15: Al Abraj group will take over the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) on Tuesday, much ahead of the expiry of the three-year restriction on changing of hands under the privatisation agreement.

After the privatisation, Aljomaih had taken over the utility on Nov 29, 2005, but the KESC management passed on to new owners who had 50 per cent right shares.

Naved Ismail will be the new head of the utility. Aljomaih might maintain a “ceremonial presence” for a while to deal with legal issues, sources said.

APP adds: Federal Secretary for Water and Power Ismail Qureshi said on Monday that Karachi would have two hours of scheduled loadshedding daily from Tuesday.

He told a TV channel after holding talks with the new management that it had agreed to generate power at full capacity till Eid.

Replying to a question, he said the recent shortage had occurred because the KESC had not been generating electricity to its full capacity due to increase in oil prices.

He said 800MW would be added to the KESC system by April 2009.