SIALKOT, Dec 12: The Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) has lifted a ban imposed on the installation of new power connections for tubewells in the Gujranwala division.

This was announced by Gepco Chief Executive Brig Saifullah Khalid while speaking to the participants of ‘open kutchery’ at Daska on Thursday.

He said the Gepco had introduced a special package for its consumers who had been defaulters for the last five years. Under the package, he said that defaulters of less than Rs25,000 and from Rs25,000 to Rs100,000 had been asked to deposit 50 and 75 per cent of their total amount, respectively. This package would be effective till Dec 31, 2002, he said.

Brig Khalid said the Gepco had started implementation on a comprehensive and phased programme for providing smooth supply of electricity to consumers.

He said the Gepco had decided to sign a pact with a private company for the recovery of outstanding arrears from the big defaulters. He said this pact would be inked in January, 2003.