RAWALPINDI, April 21: Several government departments, including some military establishments, owe Rs864 million to Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (Iesco), officials told Punjab governor Lt-Gen (retired) Khalid Maqbool on Wednesday at a briefing.
The Iesco officials sought the governor's assistance for the recovery of this outstanding amount. The main three defaulters of Iesco are Azad Jammu and Kashmir government (Rs379.70 million), MES (Rs226.73 million) and the cantonment board (Rs186.53 million).
The other seven major defaulters are G.E (Air), Public Works Department, Municipal Corporation (presently Tehsil Municipal Administration), Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and Capital Development Authority.
The governor was informed that the revenue collection by Iesco was falling behind the target because of the default of such huge amounts by the government institutions.
The officials further told the briefing that initially 193 major villages of Rawalpindi district were without electricity. However, by now around 132 are being provided electricity connection and another about 60 villages would still be without electricity.
These 60 villages make up five per cent of the total area of the district. Most of these villages are in Kahuta and Kotli Sattian Tehsils. The officials said the line losses in the city circle had been brought down from 13.04 per cent to 12.6 per cent and were vying to cut down the figure to 12.3 per cent.
PTCL: The governor, while being briefed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) officials, was told that there were about 13,765 pending applications in the Islamabad Telecommunication Region.
The PTCL, whereas, has a capacity to accommodate around 61,933 more connections. The telephone company, the officials said, was not being able to exploit its full potential in the region because of certain administrative problems. The governor immediately ordered the local authorities to sort out these irritants.
The PTCL, Lt-Gen Maqbool was told, had so far been able to meet 67 per cent of its target of new connections. The PTCL officials raised the issue of theft of telephone cable, on which the governor directed the police officials to immediately track down the culprits.
Replying to a query by the governor, the officials said, the demand for internet connections in villages was very poor particularly the masses were finding it difficult to afford internet facilities. The officials said the PTCL planned to install seven new telephone exchanges in the near future.
BAITUL MAL: The district coordination officer (DCO) told the governor that Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM) did not have the capacity to handle the functions it was supposed to perform. He said the biggest hurdle in the way of the PBM was that it did not have any ground verification mechanism to vet applications for assistance.
The DCO said funds available with the PBM were limited and could not adequately meet the needs of the people. He observed that instead of helping the needy on sustainable basis the PBM was promoting beggary.
NADRA: Officials at National Database and Registration Authority's (Nadra) Swift Registration Centre, speaking at the briefing, said almost 73 per cent of the district's above 18 years population had got computerized national identity cards (CNIC).
There are about 1.9 million people eligible for CNIC out of which 1.45 have already got their cards. This rate of registration, it was said, was one of the best in the district. There are about 20 million CNIC holders in the Punjab. The officials said Nadra was actively working on a proposal to set up a swift registration centre in Murree.
SUI GAS: At another briefing at Sui Northern Gas Company's consumer centre, the officials said 50 per cent of the consumers default on their bills. The governor later visited General Post Office in Saddar and inquired about its services from the customers.
DISTRICT NAZIM's OFFICE: At the end of his day long visit to the organizations run by the federal government, the governor addressed a gathering at the district nazim office and disclosed his findings.
He instructed the district government and Iesco to immediately arrange for construction of another six grid stations in the city to cater to the growing needs of power supply in the city and bringing about a stability in the supply system.
The district government was asked to provide land for the setting up of grid stations in three months, while Iesco officials were asked to arrange funding for the project during this period. He said funds would be arranged for the electrification of the remaining five per cent villages of the district during the next financial year.
The PTCL was asked to improve their demand and to speed up provision of connections to the consumers. He asked the PTCL to provide wireless loop in the hilly areas of Rawalpindi district to improve telecommunication network in the area. The Pakistan Baitul Mal was told to be more focussed and to concentrate on helping needy get education and medical treatment.
The governor criticized the Sui Gas department for being lax in providing connection to the consumers and expanding their network. Satellite Town Nazim Mian Imran Hayat drew the attention of the governor towards the wrong distribution of services at the city's three teaching hospitals.
He cited the example of the neuro-surgery department, which was located in the District Headquarters Hospital, while the diagnostic services are in the RGH and Holy Family Hospital, which do not have the neuro-surgery treatment facilities.
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