MANSEHRA: All Pakistan Wapda Hydro Workers Union central vice president Jamil Tanoli on Tuesday urged the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to issue a licence to the Hazara Electric Supply Company (Hazesco) without delay to ensure its smooth functioning.

“The government has appointed the chief executive officer to Hazesco but he is powerless to the suffering of commercial and domestic consumers,” Mr Tanoli told reporters here.

Accompanied by other union leaders, Mr Tanoli said that technical issues facing the newly-formed electric company had caused prolonged power outages and low voltage in the Hazara division.

“Once Nepra and SECP issue the licence, Hazesco will be able to serve its consumers more effectively and generate revenue for the government,” he said.

Mr Tanoli said chairman of the National Assembly standing committee on power Mohammad Idrees had also recommended to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the immediate annexation of Lower and Upper Kohistan and Kolai-Palas with Hazesco.

“We are currently getting only 600 megawatts of electricity instead of the requirement of 1,000 megawatts, causing prolonged power outages and low-voltage issues,” he said.

Mr Tanoli said Hazesco had yet to become fully functional, as 60 per cent of its positions, including those of meter readers, clerks, assistant linemen and bill distributors, were vacant. He said the federal cabinet was likely to discuss and resolve those issues in its upcoming meeting.

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced Rs2.5 billion for the establishment of Hazesco offices, so he will hopefully lay the foundation stone for this mega-complex soon,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents and local government representatives of Sari Balolian area in Oghi tehsil on Tuesday urged the government to finish the construction of their local primary school.

“The school work has been suspended for the last six years, forcing students to receive education in a local mosque,” local councillor Javed Sikandar told reporters in Oghi. Accompanied by a group of residents, Mr Sikandar said it was the only school that provided primary education to the local children.

“We raised this issue with local lawmakers and senior education officials but no action has been taken,” he said.

The councillor said the provincial government made tall claims about educational reforms but students here attended classes without a proper school building.

“If the government does not resume school construction within a week, we will take to the streets,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2024