Islamabad:
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Energy was informed on Wednesday that the government was preparing a relief package for consumers of floods who would be announced within a day or two.
The panel, led by Muhammad Idrees, met to discuss prolonged load in Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco) and measures to offer concessions to flooded affected electric users.
PPP -Laws Syed Hussain Tariq, who had traveled from Hyderabad, raised strong objections to Hesco’s performance. He complained that the tool was taking load, even in areas with 90 percent recovery.
“Nowhere in the world causes rain electric, but in Hyderabad people die due to uncertain infrastructure,” he said, adding that 152 feed remained closed for three days in recent power breaks.
Power Secretary Fakhre Alam Irfan said loading throws were carried out on the basis of power loss.
Tariq asked who was responsible for the death of three people who died of electrocution during rain and ten deaths in 2022 due to a transformer oil fire. “I’m not here to defend or accuse anyone other than to resolve the system. There is no reason for four-day blackouts,” he emphasized.
Power Secretary acknowledged that Hesco’s annual losses had reached RS60 billion last year, largely due to poor recovery and government issues
He said, unlike multan and Lahore distribution companies, where recovery was almost 100 percent, Hesco continued to fight. “We have instructed discos not to punish honest consumers with the same treatment as the thieves of power,” he told the committee.
The Hesco officials informed legislators that the tool would now change the load from feeder-based to transformer-based management. “Only the transformers where theft occurs will be exposed to power cuts,” they said.
Committee member Naausheen Iftikhar raised concerns about inflated bills. “How can a daily wage worker pay an RS30,000 bill at once? There must be a solution to installments,” she suggested.
The committee also took the question of relief to flooded consumers.
The power secretary said the government was in contact with the IMF and the Ministry of Finance to end a special power aid package for the flooded victims.
“A relief package for flood victims will be announced in a day or two,” he said, adding that the power department remained in close coordination with the Prime Minister’s office.
The secretary maintained that electricity barifers would not be elevated until June 2026, adding that the electricity sector had given people relief compared to last year. “Protected consumers who use up to 200 units receive a bill of RS6,000-7000.”
He also clarified that Hesco and Sepco were not privatized, but would be moved towards a concession model after improvements to the performance. “In the first phase, three discos will be privatized,” he noted.
Tariq pressed Hesco control on unannounced power cuts. “Nepra and Power Division allows only seven to eight hours of scheduled power cuts. Why is unannounced load load done?” he asked, warning that false statements for parliament could lead to privilege proposals.
