ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 Former President Pervez Musharraf has cleared all electricity dues, but owners of 11 other farmhouses are yet to pay more than Rs2 million to the utility company.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Water and Power was informed here on Thursday that the former president paid Rs480,910, clearing the entire amount billed by the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco).

Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) managing director Tahir Basharat Cheema told the committee meeting, chaired by MNA Ghulam Mustafa Shah, that the payment was made by Maj (retired) Shehryar on behalf of Gen Musharraf.

“The tariff structure at Gen Musharraf's farm has also been changed from D-2 to A-1, and the difference amount has been recovered,” Mr Cheema said.

According to Iesco, the General Supply Tariff A-1 is for supply of electricity for lamps, fans and other single-phase appliances such as heaters, cookers, radiators, air-conditioners, refrigerators and domestic tubewells, etc. in premises having a connected load exceeding four kilowatts.

The tariff under category 'D' is cheaper, as is for reclamation and drainage scheme tubewells under salinity control and reclamation projects. It also includes forests, agricultural tubewells and lift irrigation pumps for the irrigation of agricultural land.

The NA standing committee meeting was informed that Iesco had given 35 agricultural connections in Chak Shahzad area and 89 in Tarlai area. The company has changed the tariff structure of almost all the farmhouses as per the applicable status.

However, 21 farms in Chak Shahzad were billed Rs3.57 million but only Rs1.28 have been recovered. Eleven owners are still to pay Rs2.29 million to Iesco.During a recent campaign, the electricity distribution company has snapped power supply to one farmhouse and cases of two others are pending in court.

The NA body was informed that technical discrepancies concerning 14 farmhouses had been rectified, and they had been given revised bills.

Legislators expressed concern over the considerably huge outstanding amount which was still to be paid by the farm owners, who belonged to a financially-strong group. Members of the committee directed the authorities to speed up the recovery drive.

Pepco managing director said disciplinary action had been initiated against those officials who were involved in inflicting financial losses to Iesco.

“Show cause notices under the Removal from Service Ordinance 2000 have been issued to 63 employees,” Mr Cheema said. Action was taken against one senior engineer, 16 junior engineers, 11 line superintendent, five meter supervisors and 30 meter readers.