Rs51bn recovered from power defaulters in four months; NA told
- By Web Desk -
- Apr 24, 2019
ISLAMABAD: Minister for Power Omar Ayub here on Tuesday claimed to have recovered Rs51bn from power sector during the last four months across the country.
Responding to a calling attention notice moved by Fazal Muhammad Khan, Minister for Power Omer Ayub said that the present government initiated a drive to improve recoveries and check power theft.
He said, “As a result of this drive, line losses have been reduced by 2.4 percent across the country whilst recoveries witnessed an increase of 1.3 percent over the last four months.”
The minister said that over twenty seven thousand FIRs had been registered against the people involved in power pilferage and added that about 4400 people had also been sent behind bars.
He further said, “We have also taken action against the staff of WAPDA and terminated over 450 officials for being hand in glove with the power pilferage.”
Out of 8610 total feeders, no load management was being carried out on 6610 feeders the minister said and clarified that load management is only being carried out in the areas where line losses were high.
Read More: 3,000 people sent to jail over power pilferage: minister
He apprised the NA that no load-shedding was being carried out on eighty percent feeders across the country.
The minister said, “No compromise will be made to eliminate ‘Kunda’ culture. Efforts are also afoot to improve the power transmission system with 2.5 billion rupees have been released for installation of Aerial Bundle Cable (ABC) to check the power pilferage.”
Responding to another calling attention notice regarding recent increase in the prices of petroleum products, Omer Ayub said,” Our mission is to provide relief to the masses. This is the reason that we did not fully pass on the increase recommended by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).
He further said that the current government had reduced taxes on petroleum products in order to shield the consumers from the increase in oil prices in the international markets.
The minister said that oil prices were at historic low of twenty two dollars per barrel in the previous regime but the relief was not passed on to the consumers.