Will arrest K-Electric management if need be, says Sharjeel Memon
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KARACHI: Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon on Monday came out hard against K-Electric, Karachi’s sole power distribution company, for sheer incompetence and for not being able to carry out its responsibilities efficiently, saying that the government will “arrest the company’s management if need be.”
Talking to reporters, Memon said during talks with K-Electric, the power distributor was coming up with one excuse or another for the frequent power outages that have troubled the city’s residents throughout the sweltering summers so far.
The information minister said the Sindh government was now “seriously mulling legal action against K-Electric for its deteriorating performance.”
“It is not only incompetence and mal intention on part of K-Electric, it borders on ‘criminal negligence’,” said the minister referring to the frequent blackouts in Pakistan’s largest city.
Read: Karachiites suffer due to fourth blackout in a week
Memon went on to say that K-Electric generated revenue of around Rs16 billion, of which even if half was reinvested into infrastructure, these problems could be tackled.
“I believe K-Electric’s management is incompetent and is unable to deal with the problems plaguing the transmission system in the metropolis.”
The minister also lashed out at the federal government for ignoring the power crisis in the whole of Sindh — not just in Karachi.
“The federal government has a 26% share in K-Electric and has three members on the company’s board but they have completely ignored the crisis,” he said.
Memon said the federal government should play its due role in resolving the issue.
Also read: Delhi residents get paid for power outages - will K-Electric do the same?
“It is time all stakeholders including K-Electric start delivering or we won’t keep away from arresting K-Electric’s management. Neither the public nor the government will let them go,” Memon said.
Meanwhile Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani said K-Electric’s negligence had contributed to the recent deaths during the unprecedented heatwave that hit Karachi last month.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (38) Closed
Jul 13, 2015 08:57pm
K Electric must also be answerable for load shedding in hospitals if electricity supply to the Minister, his offices, other civil and military vips' residences is not cut first.
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Jul 13, 2015 08:57pm
If Shareel Memon does not do it look in his bank accounts.
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Jul 13, 2015 08:59pm
Looks like Memon is not getting his Eidi from K -Electric or K -Blacktric.
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Jul 13, 2015 09:14pm
Seize the assets of the company and sell them to Matsushita Electric. Isn't it apparent by this time that Pakistan does not have the capacity, the expertise or the business acumen to run it's own electric companies. After the last four blackouts in Karachi Mister Memon finally had to get off the phone and out of his chair.
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Jul 13, 2015 09:15pm
While Mr. Memon is blaming the federal government for its stake in KE, I wonder whether Mr. Memon missed the memo on Faryal Talpur owning majority stake in KE? Can he speak with the same bravado about Faryal Talpur? It should be understood that the infrastructural problems in Sindh have historical causes; all of which can be traced back to PPP coming to rule in Sindh. For decades they have ruled Sindh but done nothing for it. I am not saying that KE should not be blamed for its failure, but Mr. Memon's blaming KE and GoP is like the pot calling the kettle black..
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Jul 13, 2015 09:16pm
K-Electric is a mafia run by political parties men inducted in the company. All MQM and PPP men given jobs with equal sharing in the loot and plunder. How can a strategic power company be privatized, this should be owned by the state. What about the corruption regarding the selling of old copper wires worth 100 billion Rs to a Chinese company and replacing it with Aluminum/silver wires, they are not as good as copper wires and waste electricity and cannot take as much load, are poor conductors compared to copper wires..
This is a huge anti-state and plunder story by the principal company Abraaj capital, a UAE based company with dubious credentials.
The state of Pakistan , the NAB, the army need to take immediate action against this state of affairs, this is daylight robbery by K-electric.
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Jul 13, 2015 09:17pm
@Imran Ahmed .... Who do you think meets the press? The Minister of Mumbo Jumbo. ... or possibly Jumbo Mumbo.
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Jul 13, 2015 09:18pm
K-Electric is doing best they can do in the given circumstances. I being Power Engineer employed in a Over Seas Company, can understand under what duress conditions the Utility Company is working. Sindh Government, please improve Law & Order situation in Karachi, no political interference in the Management of the Companies, then you can reap the Harvest by good management.
I remember, there was a news article in Dawn, regarding the 3- air conditioned ambulances given as gift from JICA for Thar people, being used as guest rooms at Mr. Memon's residence.
People know the truth about these TOOTH LESS Tigers of SINDH Government.
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Jul 13, 2015 09:18pm
Two Billions every month going in the pockets of the provincial govt. ministers & up to Dubai from Khi. HOW ??? From different dept. of sindh...
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Jul 13, 2015 09:32pm
Three members of boards getting pays and perks for nothing.
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Jul 13, 2015 09:39pm
Of course you will. The only people you will not arrest are the PPP officials. You have destroyed my beloved city. How much more destruction do you want to see?. PPP leaders have no interest in Sindh or its people. The only province where they are in power because of Benazir income support, nepotism and jobs for friends.
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Jul 13, 2015 09:42pm
Mr. Memon, please take couple of business classes before you speak, no company would reinvest half of its revenue. Half is its profit, yes but revenue, no way.
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Jul 13, 2015 09:45pm
In every democratic country the customer of electricity, telephone, as & internet do not pay for one day charges if the services break down. K Elecrick is a private company, for profit and should do the same.
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Jul 13, 2015 10:15pm
Does he means it, or just a political statement for popularity? Not solving a problem for years than issuing political statements? Thats all you get, no solutions to electricity, clean water (water-tanker-mafia), lack of schoolinfor poor children, lack of medica? But politicians go everywhere with full police protection, all the servants, big salary, comfort, all first class. Thats democracy, pakistani style? Thank you all the politicians of every party for enjoying good life & punishing public with miserable life without basic necessity. I am sure, people of Karacgi are NOT stupid.
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Jul 13, 2015 10:24pm
Under what law can the government arrest the management of a private corporation? This is a pretty rash statement for a minister to make. Typical of the government of a banana republic and not of a true democracy.
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Jul 13, 2015 10:31pm
@KeyPoints "I am sure, people of Karacgi are NOT stupid." Of course they are, why else would it come to this situation otherwise?
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Jul 13, 2015 10:55pm
K-Eletric should be privatised with strict government regulations that make the management accountable to the citizens. How do you do that? That is a million dollar question.
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Jul 13, 2015 10:55pm
Reminds me of where Delhi was 20 years ago. You could really learn from Delhi and Bombay. Hell we even saw thrashing of department employees by irate mobs in those days !!
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Jul 13, 2015 11:39pm
Today in Chachro district Tharparkar a poor farmer has attempted suicide by hanging himself in tree because of poverty, keeping this in front of all Mr Sharjeel Inam Memon must be arrested as well.
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Jul 14, 2015 12:02am
dont just say it do it how long you going to wait....Dont say things you cant do..public demands action and now or never
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Jul 14, 2015 12:03am
"incompetence and for not being able to carry out its responsibilities efficiently". Minister saheb your govt also heavyly falls in this category, what about their arrest ?
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Jul 14, 2015 12:03am
Mr. Memon - those who live in glass houses should not throw rocks at others.
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Jul 14, 2015 12:24am
Just blowing hour air. Empty vessel.
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Jul 14, 2015 12:41am
Regardless of load shedding, corrupt official and corruption should be dealt with provisions in the law. Arresting K.E staff for load shedding is not going to solve any problem. K.E should be provided with adequate resources and training and only then they can be held responsible for negligence. Corrupt politicians should not be allowed to violate civil rights of anyone for scoring points.
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Jul 14, 2015 01:15am
First of all an audit should be done for K electric through a foreign audit firm to determine the spending structure and to find any indication of money laundering. Secondly, current management should be stripped of their powers and quick inquiries should be made in order to bring the key management leaders to court and if found guilty of corruption they should be forced to live in a mud house with no electricity and water for 6 months. During this time they will have to walk or take local bus services to get access to banks, hospitals, schools etc.. This is how all politicians if found guilty of corruption should be treated..
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Jul 14, 2015 01:44am
He thinks we awam are fools. But we are, aren't we?
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Jul 14, 2015 02:20am
@N.S Err Sir do you know why they switched to Aluminium/ Silver? Becuase the copper wires were being stolen at an alarming rate resulting in severe breakdowns. so it was a business decision not a moral one
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Jul 14, 2015 02:37am
Stop talking and start ACTING. Now you plan to arrest them? That is signal for them to leave the country and never be hold accountable. Such as shame
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Jul 14, 2015 03:07am
How about you start with paying the insane amounts of money the Sindh Government owes K-Electric? In case you didn't know, the Sindh Government is the biggest single defaulter. There is only so much K-Electric can do without it's required and rightful funds that you and your cronies have failed to pay. Considering that K-Electric is pretty much a fish out of water at the moment, it's doing more than it's share. No need to hide behind smokes and mirrors.
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Jul 14, 2015 03:09am
Pakistan a Police State?, Never
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Jul 14, 2015 03:12am
If K electric is not acting in national interest especially in Karachi then better kick them out. They are playing with the lives & sentiments of the suffers. K Electric has taken the entire city as hostage.
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Jul 14, 2015 03:25am
When are you going to arrest the whole management team of K-electric? they paint such rosy picture on TV shows as if they are talking about New York
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Jul 14, 2015 04:11am
Arrest is no solution.Karachites must be paid for power outages,in their bills.
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Jul 14, 2015 04:27am
Wish we could also say the same thing for you and your party . !
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Jul 14, 2015 04:28am
Why do I smell some illegal political motive behind these blackouts?? Thanks to TWO major parties in Sindh for turning our attentions :S :S
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Jul 14, 2015 04:32am
Sindh govt gone mad to hide its own crimes .Every one needs to admit that Karachi has become too big to be managed,it needs downsizing and in the first place an immediate action to stop it getting any bigger, how it can be done is a million dollar question.
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Jul 14, 2015 04:43am
And we will do it on the basis because Sindh government has many success stories like uninterrupted and equal distribution of water in karachi. There is no container mafia in the city. Due to our policies, there is no corruption in Sindh. KE is the only organisation in Sindh who has not delivered; therefore, its management need to be arrested.
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Jul 14, 2015 05:17am
All reactive and no pro active
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