FAISALABAD, April 23: Wapda Chairman Tariq Hameed has said that delay in finalisation of tariff for Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) is the major hurdle in its privatisation and this task will be completed within the next six months.

Talking to the press here on Saturday night after visiting the Expo 2006, arranged by the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), he said there would be no negative impact on Fesco employees after its sell-off.

He said the privatisation process was not new as it was going on in the country for the last so many years. The recently privatised Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) was performing well under private owners for the last five months and the Fesco sell-off would also result in benefits for its employees and consumers.

He further said Fesco was one of the best distribution companies of Wapda with minimum line losses of 9.8 per cent. “This credit goes to its employees and no company can afford loss its efficient workforce.”

Over-all line losses of Wapda were recorded at 21.4 per cent, however, efforts were being made to trim them to 21 per cent by the end of this fiscal.

Mr Hameed said: “We are trying our best to fetch a good money from the sale of Fesco and all-out efforts are also being made to protect jobs and benefits of its employees.”

He said Wapda had not increased tariff for the last over two years despite increase in various inputs’ cost, especially diesel and furnace oil. The government had decided not to increase power tariff till June 30.