ISLAMABAD -UNS: The Senate Standing Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, convened today to discuss the grievances of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa industrialists concerning the harassment by PESCO on the installation of Solar system. Former President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted that PESCO officials creates unwanted hindrances to derailed the process of solarization. As of now, approximately a period of 07 to 08 months required to acquire the necessary approval from the PESCO. There is dire need to amend the PESCO law as it works unilaterally and provides no breathing space for local consumers. One of the affected industrialist apprised that PESCO has cut the connection despite filing an extension application,which had been pending for more than three months. Senator Mohsin Aziz lamented that it is unfortunate to witness such a treatment is being extended to industrialists who have been paying their bills and income tax. Senator Hidayatullah Khan opined that the PESCO law needs to be amended to lessen the burden of industrialists. The Committee directed the Power division to resolve the grievances of industrialists,as it would help in reviving the dying industry of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Committee was miffed over the absence of Minister and Secretary of Power Division and stated that both officials should ensure their presence in the next meeting.
While taking up the matter of excessive billing and load shedding by K-Electric,raised by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, K-Electric officials revealed that there has been zero load shedding on industrial feeders. However, 30 pc load shedding has been occurring on feeders exceeding the basic limit of transmission and distribution loses set by K-Electric. Additionally,K-Electric has bring down the line losses from 30 to 15.3 pc since 2005. Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan expressed satisfaction with the K-Electric and stated that the matter has been resolved amicably. The Committee disposed of the matter stating that the figures revealed by K-Electric depicts quite an opposite image of K-Electric compared to the one showed by the Media.
