During the audit of accounts of 2004-2013, Rs.43.374 billion frauds and misappropriations of the public funds through K-Electric administration was unearthed on account of overcharging the electric consumers in Karachi alone
By Nasir Mahmood
Karachi
The havoc being played with electric consumers in the country especially with Karachiites is unmatchable anywhere in the world. The electric power being produced by CPPAG (Ex-Wapda) is costing Rs.10 per unit and the K-Electric costing Rs.29, is being sold to end user at the rate of Rs.60 and above. What an amazing arithmetic. It means that the first producer may be using just the river water, while second producer i.e. the K-E uses Goldwater and third one the Bureaucracy washes the same energy with Platinum water?
The latest information says that the federal cabinet has given its approval for an increase of up to Rs.7.9 per unit in the base power tariff; it emerged on Saturday, after the country’s power regulator raised the national average tariff by almost Rs.5 last week. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority was informed of the decision in a letter dated July 21. The power ministry stated in the letter that the federal cabinet had approved the regulator’s proposal seeking price hikes in the uniform tariff. According to the letter, the retrospective price hike will take effect from July 1 and includes K-Electric among the power distribution companies (Discos).
After approving the Nepra’s proposal, the cabinet had filed a motion to “reconsider and issue” the new uniform tariffs for the above-mentioned Discos and K-Electric. Subsequently, the Nepra announced it will hold a hearing on July 24 (Monday) to finalize the decision (what a joke?).
In accordance with the new formula residential consumers’ tariff during peak hours will be at Rs54.51 (FCA of Rs1.90+ongoing QTA Rs1.26+ average taxes of Rs9.54 per unit with the applicable tariff of Rs41.89 per unit). In case of the expected increase of Rs4-5 per unit in the head of last Quarterly Tariff Adjustment (QTA) of FY23, the end tariff may go up to Rs60.52 per unit.
“What an amazing and unbelievable formula by a Banana State?” Aneel Mumtaz, an expert on electric affairs and analyst who has been frequently silenced on all public platforms and official hearings against the high handedness of the NEPRA Gang, stated this while talking to daily National Courier.
He disclosed that during past two decades there were four unsuccessful attempts made by the Auditor General of Pakistan’s office for audit of the K-E records. However, finally when they entered its premises to check the accounts of 2004-2013 record they unearthed amazingly Rs.43.374 billion frauds and misappropriations of the public funds through K-Electric administration on account of overcharging the electric consumers in Karachi alone. But the Bureaucrats of the government controlling ministries overthrew the AGPR staff and officials from K-Electric head office.
In this backdrop there is only one solution to solve the national energy crisis that there should be instant punishments for the overcharging of electricity and gas and the non-payments of heavy dues by the government departments and private sectors equally. On the other hand, the cabinet should immediately decide and announce the complete ban on free uses of energy, gas, petrol, diesel, air-tickets and free distribution of automobiles to all retired and serving judges, civil and military officers, parliamentarians and other beneficiaries etc. Only then we will be able to face the present challenges of the depressing economy, inflation, high-rising prices and unemployment problems. It must be the focal point of our national agenda, Aneel Mumtaz urged.
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Courtesy: National Courier (Posted on July 25, 2023)
