Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) has become synonymous with the word failure in the teeth of its extremely poor performance in recovering outstanding electricity dues from government departments, removing illegally appointed officers from their seats and addressing public complaints in restoring electricity supply.

Sources said that IESCO remains no more on the chart of excellent companies for its dismally low progress in effecting recoveries of enormous electricity outstanding dues to government departments.

IESCO had disconnected supply to all the key government departments including parliament on account of non payment of outstanding dues by them but the supply was restored from calls from high-ups. It conducted operation against defaulters and disconnected supply to CDA headquarters for not clearing dues. Sources said government departments are defaulters on electricity bills amounting to Rs 47 billion and if supply is disconnected to any department it pays a diminutive par of dues and its supply is restored.

Later IESCO pursues the policy of forgive, forget and remains mum over the matter for 6 months and beyond. Therefore, the outstanding dues never go to dip and they surge with the passage of time. On the other hand IESCO is pursing double standards in terms of domestic consumers as whosoever is found involved in electricity stealing is fined heavily and is sent to jail.

The illegal appointments in IESCO are taking heavy toll on its performance and these appointments have led to carve out groups within the IESCO. The subordinate staff loyal to IESCO don’t want to work under the illegally inducted officers for the very reason that their relatives had also applied for these seats but those were appointed who paid heavy bribe. This state of affairs is eroding the efficiency of IESCO.

IESCO had awarded contract to Resource Access Company for appointing 1900 persons. 87 officers among the appointees had started work on their seats. But those who were ignored resorted to the court because they had met all the norms of merit but were ignored.

Court ordered for inquiry in respect of appointments and all the recruitments were declared null and void. But even then no action is being taken against them.

On the other hand IESCO has started minting money in the guise of “Roshni programme”. It is based in Karachi. IESCO pays it million of rupees monthly for recording complaints. If there is any complaint against disruption in electricity supply then the consumers send message to Roshni and this message is sent to IESCO. Teams are despatched to remove the fault but no IESCO employee comes even after passage of several hours. If this situation is brought to notice of complaint office then this reply is received that send message to Roshni and telephone is switched off.

The performance of Roshni is next to nil but it is being paid million of rupees every month for its services.