Pak: World Bank to provide $54 mn loan to Iesco

Islamabad: World Bank will give $54 million as first instalment of loan to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) for improvements in its electricity distribution and transmission system.

Chief Executive Iesco Raja Abdul Ghafoor said that the amount will be spent to increase efficiency and quality of electricity supply by supporting reductions in overall technical and commercial losses and increasing availability of electricity besides improving voltage.

The company will also receive an amount of $32 million from Asian Development Bank (ADB) to improve electricity supply chain in its region, Iesco chief said.

He added the company has planned a number of projects to strengthen its network included distribution, rehabilitation and energy loss reduction, distribution of power to new consumers and rural electrification.

Raja Abdul Ghafoor said the company has provided 97,725 electricity connections to various consumers during one year while by the end of July a target of 101,380 connections will be achieved. He said during the period out of total the company has provided 86,826 connections to domestic consumers, 10,059 connections to commercial consumers, 497 connections to industrial consumers, 294 tubewell connections and 40 streetlights.

He said during the period three grid stations have been upgraded from 26MVA to 40MVA included Satellite, DHA and Chakri while Talagang and Bisal grid stations have been upgraded from 66MVA to 132MVA. He said under its contingency plan, the company has provided sufficient material at its complaint centres at all divisions to properly address citizens' complaints. He expressed the hope that load shedding hours will be reduced as the ministry has taken sincere steps to generate more electricity in the country reducing the gap between demand and supply.

Raja Abdul Ghafoor said to give relief to its consumers, the company has requested the concerned authority to reduce load shedding share of Iesco. He added the company is also implementing the directions of Minister for Water and Power regarding energy conservation and appealed citizens to help company to save energy.

He said the company under its awareness drive published pamphlets and brouchers to educate people to consume energy as it also helps reduction in electricity bills.

The Iesco chief said citizens should use energy saver bulbs instead of tube lights and ordinary bulbs which will not only save energy overall in the country but due to this power customers will receive affordable bills. He appealed commercial consumers to close shops before 8pm and avoid using additional lights in wedding halls, shopping plazas and hotels to save energy.

He said the company is strictly following load shedding schedule in rural and urban areas of the region and there is no discrimination in this regard. Replying to a question, he said company's officials and workers have been directed to address public complaints in time and no negligence will be tolerated in this regard. He said efforts are being made to make Iesco diversified, transitional and integrated power supply company with a strong environment conscience, playing a national role in electricity supply and distribution.