January 13, 2020 (MLN): The S.I.T.E Association of Industry has sent out a letter to the Chief Minister of Sindh, requesting his attention towards an urgent appeal made by K-Electric Company for the unpaid electricity dues of KWSB and various departments of Government of Sindh.
‘The matter is of grave concern as one of the Departments if KWSB and Sindh Government owes huge amount to K-Electric for the power bills. NEPRA has allowed K-Electric to disconnect power in case of non-payment but due to the strategic nature of KWSB as it is core body to ensure water supply to Karachi, the KE has not taken any drastic step but apprising you in writing about the matter and requested you to agree on a payment plan’ the notice said.
‘The Government of Sindh, in response to the Civil Appeal agreed to devise a payment plan for the reconciled amount which was also made part of Supreme Court’s order. However, with multiple written reminders by KE to yourself, payment plan is still awaited and reconciliation exercise has also stopped’ it added.
The letter further stated that non-payment of these duties impedes KE’s cash flow and industries suffer because of KE’s reduced capacity due to their constraint to purchase the fuel required to run its power plants.
‘In view of the foregoing, we request your good self to please intervene to settle this matter with utmost urgency and direct the relevant Ministries to make payments of outstanding bills immediately and ensure regular payments of monthly bills’ the letter further said.
At the end, the letter stated that an action by the Chief Minister was a dire need of time to save Karachi industries from another power and water crisis.
