KARACHI, Nov 21: Karachi Electric Supply Company has contradicted the wrong stance by KW&SB of regularly paying its bills, as appeared in a section of media and said that the Board needed to start paying its bills now so as to save Karachi citizens from water shortage. KESC also clarified that there had been no disconnection of power supply to water pumping stations but only 4-hour a day load shedding has been started. Continuous default on payments by KWSB has caused severe liquidity crises to KESC. KWSB and its management is solely responsible for any water shortage coming as a result of load shedding.
The Honorable Sindh High Court in its order on Feb 28, 2013 had clearly stated that KESC can disconnect power supply to KW&SB if it defaults on monthly bills. KWSB’s legal counsel assured the Honorable Court to adhere to the orders passed. However, since February to October this year, KWSB consumed electricity worth over Rs 4 billion in these months and paid only Rs 200 million which is less than 5 percent of the billed amount. However, in spite of continuous nonpayment, KESC kept supplying uninterrupted power to the water pumping stations solely in view of the water needs of citizens of Karachi.
KESC said that KWSB owes Rs 25.2 billion to the power utility but instead of paying, it is resorting to false and misleading statements. KESC could not function as a charity organization, therefore KWSB ought to agree on a payment schedule for arrears and start paying its current bills in the interest of water needs of Karachi population.