GUJRANWALA, Sept 28: The government has approved another 49MW ‘mini power house’ in the private sector to help reduce power shortfall being faced by the country and business community should invest in such projects.

Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) chief executive Mehmoob Alam said in his address at Gujranwala Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

He said Gepco had been asking government high-ups for elimination of unscheduled loadshedding.

He expressed the hope that following the payment of dues to generation companies by the government the power supply situation would improve.

He was of the view that the present power shortfall was caused by the ongoing hot spell.

Mr Alam appreciated chamber members and business community for extending their cooperation to Gepco and assured that their issues would be resolved on priority.

Earlier, GCCI President Malik Zaheerul Haq and other office-bearers assured the official that they would desist from staging violent protests against unscheduled outages.

Gepco senior manager (O&M) Ahsan Naseem Bhutta, chamber vice president Mehr Salahudin, Muhammad Noman, former chamber president Sheikh Sarwat Ikram and members of executive councils were also present on the occasion.

action against TMO: Local fund audit director on Wednesday recommended stern action against Qila Deedar Singh tehsil municipal officer and his staff for not providing record to an audit team that visited the TMO’s office.

Reports said local fund audit divisional director Amir Saeed received complaints that the TMA staff was involved in serious monetary irregularities.

Mr Saeed contacted the tehsil municipal officer (TMO) Aslam Qamar and asked him to remain present in his office with the record as he, along with an audit team, would be reaching there.

However, when the team reached the TMO’s office, Mr Qamar reportedly disappeared from there along with the record and his staff refused to cooperate with the auditors.

The director reported the matter to higher authorities, recommending stern action against the TMO and his staff.