KARACHI, July 4: The City Government has proposed to the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation to reduce down payment amount for its bills from 50 per cent to 10 per cent, and to recover the remaining amount of outstanding dues in the next 24 instalments from residents of kutchi abadis for formalization of power supply to them.
The City Nazim, Naimatullah Khan, addressing a press conference here on Thursday, said this proposal had been given to the KESC when it approached the City Government to seek cooperation from elected representatives in recovery of its dues and elimination of kunda culture in the city.
Mr Khan said that the matter was taken up at the advisory committee held on Thursday, and after a thorough discussion, a package was evolved which was submitted to the KESC.
According to the package, he said, the townships had been divided into two categories of kutchi abadis and pakki abadis. In view of the financial constraints of people living in kutchi abadis, who are mostly hand-to-mouth and find it difficult to make ends meet, the proposal includes 10 per cent down payment against undisputed dues, and rest of the dues’ payment in 24 instalments. Likewise, for residents of pakki abadis, the proposal pertains to 15 per cent down payment and remaining payment in 24 equal instalments.
He said that he has also asked the KESC to put moratorium on arrests and recovery of dues from defaulters till his return from the US, where he would be proceeding on Thursday night to seek and negotiate investment for projects of the City Government from Overseas Pakistanis.
He added that a five-member committee had been formed to negotiate the package with the KESC. The members of the committee are EDO Finance, Farooq Naimatullah; Aurangzeb, Islamullah and Abdul Khaliq Jumma.
Replying to questions, he said that under the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, the City Government had no control over the affairs of the KESC which was an autonomous institution.
However, as the KESC had recognized the role of elected representatives in the elimination of kunda menace and recovery of dues, the government had made the proposal in which the matter of inflated bills had also been taken up.
His attention was drawn towards the complaints of power consumers that the people who had been paying taxes to the government regularly, including power bills, were being fleeced by being asked for thousands of rupees for the installation of a second meter known as a tapping meter within the premises.
Mr Naimatullah Khan said he would take up the matter of inflated KESC bills on his return from the US. He would invite applications from the consumers and after sorting them out, would set up camps along with KESC officials in different localities to provide on-the-spot relief.
The Nazim also said that a complaint centre was being set up at the Civic Centre to attend utility consumers’ distress calls.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held between the commander of KESC’s Anti-Kunda Task Force, Major Shirazi, and Al-Karam Residents and Shopkeeper’s Association, besides Nazim, Naib Nazim and councillor of Union Council Sharifabad, here on Thursday, adds APP.
It was decided, in principle, that the association as well as Nazim, Naib Nazim and councillor will extend cooperation to educate the consumers of Al-Karam Square for payment of dues outstanding since 1984.
It may be mentioned here that Rs150 million are outstanding against 2,516 consumers residing in 704 flats besides 1,911 shops since 1984, due to deteriorated political situation in this area.