ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) has reported to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) that a fleet of its 15 vehicles was in use of the staff and officers of three key institutions or agencies required to ensure good governance and avoid misuse of public resources.

The institutions and agencies using the Iesco’s vehicles included the power division, the Power Planning and Monitoring Company (PPMC) and the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) though the power regulator denied the allegation.

Last month, the Islamabad-based power distribution company operating under the power division submitted a list of 15 vehicles of up to 3000cc engine capacity to the FIA stating that eight vehicles were in use of the staff and officers of the power division, particularly those directly working under federal minister for power Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari, six attached to another firm of the power division — the Power Planning & Monitoring Company (PPMC) — while one to chairman Nepra.

Iesco revises list of vehicles, replacing Nepra chairman’s name with additional secretary of power division

As Dawn approached Nepra and the power division to comment if vehicles belonging to state-owned power companies were in use of their staff, officers and members and under what legal ground, Nepra denied in writing stating that no vehicle of any organisation was in use of Nepra members or staff.

The two organisations were also asked as to who was responsible for the maintenance and fuel expenditures and if such a practice had any impact on consumer tariff or public funds.

Updated list

Interestingly, a couple of days later, Iesco submitted an updated list on Nov 5 to the FIA, replacing the Nepra chairman on top of the list with power division’s additional secretary using a Toyota Corolla car. The remaining list of 14 vehicles remained unchanged.

The power division, earlier on Nov 4, was requested to give its viewpoint to a set of issues, but it chose not to comment despite reminders. The Iesco list along with registration number, make, model and engine capacity provided to FIA showed that four out of eight vehicles were attached to the minister’s office, including a latest Toyota Yaris being used by ‘Director General to the Minister’, another by minister’s private secretary and two others for other staff members.

Besides the additional secretary, the list showed the power secretary was using an Iesco’s Double Cabin Toyota for “escort duty”.

Interestingly, the power secretary as principal accounting officer of the power division is responsible to ensure fiscal discipline across the power sector including the power division and about a dozen companies under the power division. The power division also did not respond if other companies had also given their vehicles at power division disposal in other cities.

Transport allowance

All government employees, in top grades, are drawing transport monetisation allowance of Rs70,000-Rs115,000 per month or official transport.

The list also showed that six other vehicles including Pajeros and Corolla-GLI were also in use of the PPMC — a company established to monitor the performance of ex-Wapda distribution, generation and transmission and dispatch companies.

An official said the Iesco’s list was just the tip of the iceberg. Not only the officers in the power division were using vehicles and other facilities of power companies but officers in many federal ministries and other influential offices were misusing transport pool of their attached and sub-ordinate companies and departments.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024