Qaim warns K-Electric to get its act together

CM says he has received several complaints of prolonged and unannounced power outages,KE to be held responsible if there’s an outbreak of power riots

Karachi

The Sindh chief minister warned the K-Electric on Wednesday that he was receiving several complaints of unannounced and prolonged spells of power outages in the city and if this situation caused an outbreak of riots, the power utility would be held responsible for it.

“The K-Electric must keep in mind that the entire city of Karachi is complaining about unannounced and excessive power outages,” Qaim Ali Shah said at a meeting
held to discuss public complaints.

“Power protests in the city are increasing and even hospitals are complaining about power breakdowns. These power outages are also creating other problems like water shortage.”

The chief minister said if these power outages continued, they might create a law and order situation in the city.

“The government is playing its role effectively to control the situation. If the power outages cause an outbreak of riots, the K-Electric would be held responsible for it,” he added.

Shah said he had received 790 complaints from Karachi pertaining to different federal and provincial organisations, most of them against the K-Electric, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and the Sui Southern Gas Company.

He added that the complaints received from the rural areas of the province were mostly against the SSGC, the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, the Sukkur Electric Supply Company, and the irrigation department.

During April, the Chief Minister’s House complaint cell received 790 complaints from Karachi, 338 against the K-Electric, 182 against the KWSB, 113 against the PTCL, 35 against the SSGC, 39 against the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation and 48 against police.

The complaints against the K-Electric were mostly about unannounced and prolonged power outages, cable theft and overbilling. 

The chief minister also expressed his displeasure over the poor performance of the KWSB and directed the water utility to ensure water supply to the city.

“The month Ramazan is approaching and the K-Electric and the KWSB must prepare a contingency plan and improve their performance.”

Over 100 complaints were received from the rural areas of the province against Hesco and Sepco pertaining to 14 hours of power outages, removal of transformers over non-payment of electricity bills and exhorting money from residents for repairing transformers.

The chef minister directed his principal secretary Alamuddin Bullo to compile the complaints against the K-Electric, Hesco and Sepco, verify them and submit to him a report so that these issues could be taken up with the prime minister.

For the complaints against the irrigation department, the chief minister directed the irrigation secretary to personally visit the branches and distributaries to ensure the provision of water in the tail-end areas of the province.