THIS refers to a letter, ‘Wapda: new meters’ (Nov 17) wherein Wapda has been held responsible for installing defected meters that run 30 to 35pc faster than the old ones.

Furthermore, Wapda has also been accused of over-billing ‘to cover leakages and thefts’.

It appears that the writer is unaware of difference in the functions, mandate and role of Wapda and distribution companies. Through these pages, we have, time and again, explained Wapda’s mandate in the backdrop of power sector reforms.

However, in order to offset the misperception about Wapda, it is clarified yet again that subsequent to bifurcation of Wapda’s power wing in 2007, it now only deals with construction of dams, hydropower projects and operation and maintenance of the existing hydel power stations.

Except hydel generation in public sector, all other matters related to electricity including billing and installation of meters, etc., come under the domain of power generation, transmission and distribution companies (Discos). These companies are functioning independently and Wapda has no relationship with them whatsoever.

Thus blaming Wapda for an act that does not fall within its mandate seems unfair.

Muhammad Abid

Director Public Relations Division Wapda, Lahore

Published in Dawn, November 22th , 2014