PESHAWAR, Nov 2: A meeting of the Board of Directors of the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) discussed new measures for providing better facilities to the consumers, including ‘online payment’ through Askari Bank and payment by ‘ATM prepaid cards’.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Pesco director Jamshed Savul.

Accounts for the preceding year 2002-03 were discussed by the board point by point and approved after thorough deliberations.

A press release issued here on Sunday said finance director Riaz Hussain was complimented for saving Rs3.5 million of the company and was recommended for an appropriate award.

The meeting also sanctioned purchase of fabricated and galvanized poles for early implementation of development work. Likewise, angle iron at the lowest rates were to be ordered to Nowshera steel structure workshop.

A detailed presentation was given by Pesco chief internal auditor Ejaz Rasool regarding planning for the forthcoming year to make the internal audit more effective and efficient.

It was decided during the meeting that a presentation be made to the board biannually and auditors were instructed to ensure physical verification of the inventory with the help of technical staff.

Pesco chief executive Brig Tahir Saeed Malik gave a detailed presentation on the achievement of Pesco wherein he highlighted that due to diligent and concerted efforts, electricity sale increased by 5.7 per cent with a substantial increase of 13 per cent over the last year’s recovery of Rs12.912 billion.

A huge sum of Rs75.074 billion is owed to Pesco by government departments and private consumers which include Rs739 million stuck up due to litigation, the meeting was informed.

The chief executive also informed the board that to improve the electric supply many development projects had been completed while some were in the execution stage with an aim to facilitate consumers.

All-out efforts were being made by introducing one-window operation in each sub-division, whereas customer service centres were set up at circle level, he added.

The chief executive also informed the board about other measures taken for facilitation of consumers and improving performance of the company.

New connections were provided at reduced rates, circles had been authorized for immediate repairs of faulty transformers, elected representatives approached for finding out solution to problems, new grid stations commissioned and a substantial amount of Rs550 million spent to upgrade the existing ones, he said.—APP