ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Water and Power has suspended over 50 officers of four distribution companies because of poor performance, days after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) ruled against its interference in their affairs.

According to an official statement, Secretary for Water and Power Mohammad Younas Dagha suspended seven superintending engineers (SEs) and 15 sub-divisional officers (SDOs) of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company on charges of poor performance after the aggregate technical and commercial losses increased in their jurisdiction.

The customer service director, two SEs, seven executive engineers (XENs) and 12 SDOs of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) were suspended for similar reasons.

An SE of the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) was suspended along with three XENs and five SDOs.

The XEN for Turbat of the Quetta Electric Supply Company faced the same action.

The statement said the suspensions were ordered after a monthly performance review of the companies.

The suspended officials of Pesco include the XENs of Mansehra, Charsadda, Peshawar city and rural, Mardan-1, Bannu-1 and Bannu-2.

The ministry suspended 15 SDOs of Pesco because the technical and commercial losses in their areas increased by more than 4.5 per cent over last year.

Pesco was asked to complete meter reading in 98 subdivisions by next month.

Concerns were expressed at the meeting over lack of progress regarding an incentive package for recovery of outstanding dues and calculation of line losses by a ‘third party’.

The suspended Lesco officers include the SEs of Eastern and Sheikhupura circles; XENs of Baghbanpura, Renala, Phoolnagar, Sheikhupura fort and city, Nankana and Ferozewala; and SDOs of Akhtarabad, Engineering University, Madina Colony, Pattoki city, Barki, Sheranwala Gate, Chunian rural, Muridke city, Baghbanpura, Warburton, Faizpur and Industrial Division.

The SE of Hyderabad; XENs of Thatta, Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas and SDOs of Khipro, Memon Hospital, Hirabad, Jamshoro and Golarchi were also suspended.

Published in Dawn ,July 16th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play