KARACHI, April 23: K-Electric (KE) in its press statement has stated that despite outstanding power dues payable by the ministry of education which exceed Rs. 12.7 Million, the company has exempted 85% of the Intermediate Examination Centers from load shedding.
Given the fact that these examination centers are spread all across the city limits, granting exemption to 100% centers was not practical. This is more so, because most of these examination centers are in High Losses and Very High Loss areas, categorized either due to power theft, non-payment of dues, or in some cases both.
Despite the above impediments, KE being aware of the needs of the students appearing for their Inter examinations, has worked out the load shed schedule such that there’s no planned load shed during the exam timings in over 85% of the centers.
KE pointed out that over 1400 connections belonging to educational institutions of Education Departments of the City and the Provincial Governments had been defaulters of an accumulated amount of over Rs. 36 Million. With that huge default, it was unrealistic that these departments demand any sort of exemption from load shedding to begin with. However, being a responsible power utility and in the greater interest of nation’s future, KE stepped up to ensure that the maximum possible relief could be extended to such examination centers.
KE said that these government run departments needed to realize their responsibilities and pay their defaulted bills. KE understands the situation from the student point-of-view but it needs to be realized that the sole responsibility of such a situation lies on these educational institutions, the Provincial and the Federal Government.