LAHORE: The village electrification scheme will be extended to about 20 villages in each division, excluding Karachi and Kalat, during the current financial year. This was decided at the two-day annual conference of the senior officers of the power wing of WAPDA which ended last Tuesday [July 2].

The election of villages for electrification would be made through the people’s representatives in the Divisional Councils. The Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers have been asked to contact local Divisional Councils for the election of villages.

The conference also examined in detail the question of power thefts, and drastic steps to curb this activity were approved. The Chief Engineers have been authorised to mobilise special detection squads to make large-scale surprise raids on consumers suspected of stealing power.

In order to improve service to the consumer, the Authority has agreed to give quick promotions and even cash rewards to honest and vigilant officers in the subdivisions. The Sub-Divisional Officers are to be categorised on the basis of merit for the grant of incentives, the main consideration in this categorisation will be the performance of an officer to improve service, recover dues and reduce revenue losses.

To ensure round the clock attention to complaints from consumers in big towns the complaint offices are to be provided two cars drivers instead of one as at present.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2018