KARACHI, July 8: Complying with a set of recommendations put forward by the city government last week, the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation has unveiled a relief package which is a vast improvement on the one offered earlier this year.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the KESC managing director, Brig Tariq Saddozai, announced the revised relief package which would remain in force for three months. “Previously a KESC defaulter used to pay 50 per cent of total dues as a down payment. Now he will have to pay 20 per cent of total dues as a down payment.”
He said that after the payment of the 20 per cent down payment, those domestic, commercial and agricultural consumers who owed less than Rs50,000 would pay the balance in 20 monthly instalments with their regular bills. He added that after the payment of the 20 per cent down payment, those domestic, commercial and agricultural consumers who owed more than Rs50,000 would pay the balance in 15 monthly instalments along with their regular bills.
The KESC managing director said the industrial and bulk- supply consumers would have to pay 20 per cent of total dues as a down payment followed by 15 monthly instalments with their regular bills.
When asked what would be the status of a KESC consumer if he failed to pay an instalment in time, Brig Saddozai said in that case the relief package would stand null and void. “In order to encourage a KESC defaulter to pay instalments regularly, the power utility has devised a waiver plan.”
He explained that a consumer allowed instalments would be given a credit of five per cent of total dues in his bill provided regular payment of half instalments allowed had been made. He added that if a consumer was regular in payment of allowed instalments then at the time of last instalment a credit of 10 per cent of total dues would be given in his bill and instalment amount would be reduced to that extent.
The KESC managing director said that for the power utility it was difficult to make a distinction between kutchi abadi consumers and pakki abadi consumers. “But our relief is weighted in favour of those belonging to low-income groups.”
He said if a KESC defaulter wished to pay the arrears lump sum, he would get 20 per cent rebate. But, he added, the arrears should be for more than three months. He said that defaulters could avail themselves of the rebate facility till Aug 2.
When a reporter reminded the KESC managing director of a request made by City Nazim Naimatullah Khan at a press conference on July 4 of not arresting defaulters, Brig Saddozai said the KESC arrested only those defaulters who reconnected their houses on their own following disconnection by the power utility.
When asked what would happen to the relief package after the privatization of the KESC, Brig Saddozai said the KESC buyer would have to honour the commitments made by the management.
The KESC managing director conceded that the reason why people pilfered electricity was that power was quite expensive in Pakistan. “I know that electricity is very expensive but at my level I can offer only billing relief.”
He added that the government was exploring other options of power generation. “The government has signed at least two agreements with China for coal-powered electricity generation. Similarly, experts are considering installing windmills.”