MANSEHRA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to launch the Hazara Electric Supply Company (Hazesco) next week after returning from China.

“The Hazesco to be carved out of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company will become functional after a formal launch by the prime minister on his return from the ongoing official Chinese visit,” PML-N central senior vice president and MNA Sardar Mohammad Yusuf told reporters on Tuesday.

Yusuf said all appointments to the new power utility, including that of chief executive officer Alam Zeb, had already been finalised.

He said Hazesco would initially have over 5,000 employees in various cadres.

The PML-N leader said the new power company’s launch would effectively address the issues of prolonged power outages, low voltages, and inflated bills in the region.

‘N’ leader insists initiative to address issues of power cuts, inflated bills

He said preparations for the inauguration of the Hazesco were finalised in a meeting attended by him, energy minister Owais Ahmad Leghari, former MNA retired Captain Mohammad Safdar, former National Assembly deputy speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi and chairman of the Wapda Hydro-Electric Union Jamil Tanoli.

Yusuf said Hazesco would manage its financial affairs by itself.

“In Hazara Division, the power theft ratio compared to the rest of the province is almost near zero, and commercial and domestic consumers will also enjoy its benefits,” he said.

Meanwhile, an elderly woman died from a heat stroke in the Darband area here.

Piyari Bibi, 70, fainted at the Benazir Income Support Programme centre as she went there to collect cash handouts.

Support sought

Torghar district police officer Mukhtar Shah on Tuesday sought the support and cooperation of religious scholars and elders for the eradication of drug peddling and other crimes from the region.

“Ulema and elders have always supported the police in maintaining law and order. Now, we need your [ulema’s] support for the ongoing crackdown on drug pushers in our district,” Mr Shah told a jirga in the Judbah area.

The participants included local religious scholars and elders.

The DPO said that the crime rate in Torghar was quite low compared with other districts in Hazara Division, and that could be controlled due to the support and cooperation of elders and religious leaders.

“Our community policing initiative achieved all targets, including the arrest of wanted men,” he said.

Mr Shah said that the police won’t allow a handful of drug peddlers to play with the future of youth in the district. The ulema and elders assured him of their support and cooperation for the eradication of drug peddlers and outlaws in the district.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2024