QUETTA: The Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) has announced that duration of loadshedding will be increased in areas where consumers have not been paying their bills. The company has already launched a disconnection campaign against defaulters across Balochistan.

A Qesco spokesperson said on Wednesday that the Ministry of Water and Power had directed the company to increase duration of loadshedding in defaulter areas.

He said that among defaulters were not only domestic and commercial consumers, but also government departments.

The outstanding dues against consumers in Balochistan stood at Rs132 billion, he said, adding that people in the agriculture sector owed to the company Rs115bn. Balochistan government’s departments are defaulters of Rs8bn and federal government’s departments owed Rs745 million.

The spokesperson said the company had sent many notices to defaulters.

He said Qesco was facing a serious financial crisis due to non-payment of dues and the company had launched the power disconnection campaign against all defaulters.

He said all officers of the company had been strictly instructed to disconnect power supply to defaulters without any discrimination and political pressure.

To curb electricity theft, the spokesperson said, the Qesco Special Magistrate Class-I would take legal action against defaulters under the Electricity Act, 1910.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2015