Karachi: Apathetic performance of public utility services continues

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Azeem Samar
The apathetic performance of public utility services continued in 2008, breeding a strong feeling of dissatisfaction amongst consumers.

In 2008, consumers of electricity not only suffered massive bouts of load shedding and power outages, but also fell victim to immense increase in power tariffs. The Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) underwent a change of administration in mid-September, when it was taken over by its new UAE-based corporate owners. Regardless of claims made by the new KESC administration about elaborate investment plans to improve the working and services of the corporation, no tangible improvements were observed. In fact, during the last 15 days of 2008, consumers had to endure eight-hour or even longer spells of power outages on a daily basis, despite the fact that the consumption of electricity would have decreased due to the winters. Also, the KESC customers received exorbitant electricity bills due to unreasonable infusion of arrears for the past months. Despite compassionate review and revision by government authorities, increased electricity tariffs caused yet another blow to the already deplorable economic condition of the masses.

Commenting on this situation, Kaukab Iqbal, the chairman of Consumers Association of Pakistan, said that the supply of electricity in the metropolis had worsened. “There is no relief in sight for power consumers, electricity tariffs have been increased and it seems that we are living in the Stone Age because of the constant absence of electricity.”

The year also witnessed a decline in the otherwise satisfactory performance of the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). The shortage and low pressure of gas became a common problem in many areas of the city, causing difficulties for domestic consumers in performing essential cooking chores. Commercial users were also affected by lack of gas supply. Zubair Motiwala, an eminent industrialist, complained that many industries suffered heavily due to load shedding or low-pressure. According to him, the supply of gas connections on political grounds by the SSGC authorities further damaged the functioning of several industries.

During 2008, the people of Karachi also witnessed a tug-of-war between the City-District Government Karachi (CDGK) and the Sindh Government to gain administrative control of Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB). The row finally settled in favour of the CDGK, however, citizens’ problems related to water supply and sewerage conditions remained largely unattended.

Noted industrialist Mian Zahid Hussain said that industries in Korangi Industrial Area received insufficient water supply throughout the year that resulted in hindrances in the working of industries. “Whenever we talked to authorities in the KWSB, they put the blame on frequent power outages, saying that the outages cause interruptions in the working of water pumping stations. In my opinion, the water board should install generators for ensuring smooth running of their pumping stations to cope with such situation. Moreover, the industrial units of Korangi Area received inflated bills for bulk water consumption that gave rise to concerns among the industrialists,” Hussain told The News.

Abdul Razzaq, Nazim of Union Council 4, SITE Town blamed the absence of coordination between elected representatives of local bodies and KWSB authorities regarding water and sewerage service. “The Union Council administration has to spare its meagre non-development funds to repair minor leakages in water supply lines, as complaining to the Water Board for such problems bear no fruit. Complains about shortage of staff at water pumping stations also went unnoticed,” said Razzaq.

Meanwhile, problems pertaining to landline telephones remained not only unresolved, but also compounded during 2008. Operators of cellular phone services however witnessed a phenomenal rise in their customer-base. Several PTCL consumers got fed up of poor PTCL services, and decided to get their phone lines disconnected. A distressed consumer told The News that he had his phone line disconnected when PTCL authorities failed to restore his telephone connection that had been not operational for the past several months, despite repeated requests to restore the telephone service.

In this regard, Ziauddin, the president of the PTCL Employees Union said that the development work of the CDGK and other development authorities had badly damaged the underground network of the PTCL lines. “We face difficulties in getting permission from these local authorities for due repairing and replacement of the underground telephone network. No doubt the network of the PTCL has become obsolete and plans are underway to replace the network to ensure best quality of telephone service,” he said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154567