ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) has disconnected supply of electricity to Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) headquarters for the last one week bringing all kinds of official work to a standstill.

Public Works Department is being punished for the non-payment of electricity bills of government residences and departments like the federal ministers’ colony, Prime Minister House, PM secretariat etc.

There are Rs9,946,103 as outstanding dues against the ministers’ colony, Rs8,557,848 against the Prime Minister’s House and Rs1,776,478 against the PM Secretariat.

Other big defaulters are judges’ rest house, federal Shariat court, federal inspection (NAB).

A PWD official said there are no outstanding arrears of electricity against the PWD complex which houses offices of one of the most important public department.

The Public Works Department headquarters has written a number of letters to Iesco officials reminding them that since there are no outstanding arrears against their head office, electricity should be restored to them. But there is no response from Iesco’s side.

The PWD has also written to the finance division but payment has yet to be made.

Chief Executive Officer Iesco Javed Pervez said: “Power has been disconnected due to non-payment of electricity bills”.

He said that PWD headquarters was responsible for the payment of electricity bills of many offices and installations.

There are outstanding dues against some of these offices due to which the electricity of PWD complex has been disconnected, Mr Javed said.

A Public Works Department official said it was totally unjust that the department was being punished for the arrears of other organisations.

The official suggested that all the government departments, offices and organisations should themselves pay their utility bills instead of putting the burden on the PWD.