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Meeting to resolve KESC, Wapda rift begins
KARACHI: The meeting for the resolution of the dispute between the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) and Wapda is underway here with the Caretaker Minister for Water and Power, Tariq Hameed in the chair. KESC CEO, Lt. Gen. ® Syed Muhammad Amjad accompanied by other officials and Wapda high-ups are attending this meeting. Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) has given a grace period to KESC until April 1 for the payment of about Rs38 billion arrears. KESC sources took the stand that the Company would be paying its payables to Pepco after having received the huge amounts from the government departments long outstanding. Sources said that KESC would also raise the issue of electricity price in the meeting, as Pepco was demanding @ Rs8.50 per unit from KESC, while the Pepco was supplying electricity to the other 9 companies of the country at a cheaper rate. KESC presently buys electricity @ Rs3.79 per unit. KESC sources told that the furnace oil fueled electricity was highly costly and adding up 30 percent line losses to this takes it to Rs10/12 per unit, while the hydle power costs only Rs0.20 to Rs0.30 per unit. Thus Wapda should supply KESC hydle power also. Sources said that KESC was not expecting major decisions from this meeting. Sources said that unless the meeting was held at very high-level, such issues would not be resolved easily, which needed permanent resolutions. It may be recalled that Pepco is a subsidiary of Wapda and the Company due to non-payment of arrears has restrained the power supply to KESC at 200 megawatts, while normally Wapda supplies to KESC 500 to 550 megawatts and it is raised up to 750 megawatt in summer scorching heat
Courtesy Geo