Tag: unpaid dues

  • Names of politicians not paying their electricity bills made public

    Names of politicians not paying their electricity bills made public

    In a shocking revelation, the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) has unveiled a roster of prominent individuals who have failed to meet their obligations regarding electricity payments. 

    According to Samaa, this list comprises former Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), Senators, and individuals associated with the transportation industry, thereby bringing to light the substantial unpaid dues of these notable figures. 

    According to a QESCO spokesperson, the most significant defaulter on this list is none other than the former Federal Minister, Mir Hamayoun Aziz Kurd, who is currently indebted to the tune of an astounding Rs4.95 million. 

    Following closely behind, we find former Provincial Minister Asim Kurd with an outstanding balance of Rs2.06 million, while former Interior Minister Mir Zia Ullah Langau’s dues are accounted for at Rs1.57 million. 

    Among other noteworthy entries on this list, former Provincial Minister Zafar Zehri is recorded with unpaid bills totaling Rs1.16 million, former MNA Abdul Qahar Uddin with an outstanding amount of Rs916,253, and former Provincial Minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran showing Rs468,770 in unsettled bills. 

    This compilation also reveals that Feroz Lehri, a prominent transporter, owes QESCO a sum of Rs493,310, while Senator Naseeb Ullah Bazai has failed to clear Rs447,810 in unpaid bills. Additionally, former MPA Haji Ahmed Nawaz’s dues amount to Rs179,009, and tribal leader Wadera Sheeren Marri has an unsettled bill of Rs86,953. 

    KESCO, in response to the rampant issue of electricity theft across Balochistan, including Quetta, has undertaken rigorous measures. According to the spokesperson, a total of 322 cases have been registered against electricity thieves, resulting in the apprehension of 122 individuals.  

    Quetta leads with the highest number of cases at 64, followed by Loralai with 75, Khuzdar with 65, Sibi with 88, and Pishin with 25 cases. In addition to these, 5 cases have been filed in Makran. 

    Read more: Govt considers substantial gas tariff hike as energy concerns loom 

    The stringent crackdown on electricity theft has culminated in the collection of approximately Rs75 million in fines from the culprits, with Rs42.6 million already successfully recovered.  

    In response to non-payment issues in Balochistan, authorities have seized 15 transformers, and an additional 6 illegal transformers have been confiscated. Furthermore, 435 defaulters in Quetta, Loralai, Khuzdar, Pishin, Sibi, and Makran have had their connections disconnected due to their persistent outstanding bills. 

  • National Refinery halts fuel supply to Pakistan State Oil over unpaid dues

    The National Refinery Limited (NRL) has decided to suspend the supply of fuel to Pakistan State Oil (PSO) due to the state-owned oil marketing company’s failure to make payments to the refinery.

    PSO has encountered a severe financial crisis, leading to outstanding payments owed to various sectors as a result of the supply of petroleum products.

    The amount owed to NRL by PSO is currently Rs3.469 billion. NRL has conveyed its decision to stop the supply of fuel to PSO in writing, according to a report by a national daily.

    Notably, PSO has recently stopped making payments to refineries, including those that supply diesel, gasoline, aviation fuel, furnace oil, and other petroleum products to the state-owned company.

    As per the company’s receivables, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) is the largest defaulter of PSO, with an outstanding amount of Rs492.102 billion as of March 8, 2023. In response, the Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet has authorized a sovereign guarantee of Rs50 billion in favor of SNGPL for commercial borrowing on an immediate basis to meet PSO’s liquidity requirement.

    The power sector remains a significant source of difficulty for the state-owned oil marketing company, with outstanding payments of Rs178 billion, followed by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the government of Pakistan, both of which owe PSO Rs92.5 billion. The total receivables, which have risen to Rs762.653 billion, include the most critical payment of Rs124.666 billion in late payment surcharge (LPS).