HYDERABAD: A district-level multi-party conference (MPC) on Sunday condemned poor service delivery of the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) and demanded an end to load-shedding.

Convened by the Sindh United Party (SUP) Hyderabad chapter, the moot was presided over by its secretary general Roshan Buriro and attended by Dr Niaz Kalani of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Ali Hingoro of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and representatives of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, besides leaders and activists of other parties and groups.

Observing that an unending load-shedding had endangered lives of coronavirus patients, the conference adopted several resolutions. It urged the federal government to take action against corrupt Hesco officers and staff who were demanding bribe for repair of faulty transformers. Defective transformers were removed and money was sought from consumers for their repair and replacement, it explained.

Calling for replacing all old 11kV feeders’ lines, it said Hesco should declare an emergency for rainy season. It demanded installation of additional transformers in the entire Hyderabad district and opposed appointment of officers in Hesco and Sepco from other provinces.

The MPC asked the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) and National Electric Power Regularity Authority (Nepra) to refund payments recovered through detection bills. All such bills be cancelled, they demanded. It warned that a joint protest sit-in would be held outside the Hesco office if the power utility failed to mend its ways.

It formed a steering committee, of participating entities, led by Roshan Buriro which would meet the Hesco chief, discuss problems and find out their solutions.

The conference argued that when electricity was available, it should be provided to hospitals, educational institutions and other essential services institutions in the rural and urban areas on a priority basis.

It resolved to write a letter to the Hesco chief and send its copy to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2020