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LARKANA, Dec 28 (APP):Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO), Ijaz Ahmed Channa on Sunday inaugurated a modern Customer Service Center in Larkana Circle for the convenience of electricity consumers.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony and speaking to the media, Ijaz Ahmed Channa stated that on the directives of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Awais Leghari, revolutionary steps were being taken in SEPCO to make customer services standard, transparent and effective.
He informed that a modern complaint management system had been introduced for the immediate redressal of consumer complaints and the toll-free number 118 has been made completely free. Through this, over 36 million consumers can register their complaints without any balance deduction and will be kept informed about the complete progress of their complaint, he said.
The CEO revealed that in the past 14 months, the Company’s recovery had increased by 70 percent, while line losses had been reduced by 3 percent. In the first 6 months of the current financial year, he said, the SEPCO saved the institution from a financial loss of 30 billion rupees.
He stated that last year, the power sector suffered an overall loss of 600 billion rupees. However, under the leadership of the Energy Minister, power companies have reduced losses by 200 billion rupees this year. He said that if the performance of institutions improves, there is no need for privatization.
Responding to a question concerning workers, Ijaz Ahmed Channa said that workers are our heroes and the backbone of the institution, who are serving day and night, risking their lives in difficult conditions. The SEPCO administration is making full efforts to improve the economic condition of the workers. He clarified that no system is ideal, but there is always room for improvement. Consumers can only be provided relief by strengthening the institutions.
Speaking about actions against electricity theft, the SEPCO (CEO) said that in just 6 months, over 3500 illegal (kunda) connections have been disconnected, and cases of electricity theft have also been registered against industrial consumers. He unequivocally stated that electricity thieves are not friends but a cancer for society. He announced that after Larkana, a Customer Service Center will soon be inaugurated in Dadu as well, which will provide direct facilities to consumers in Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah, and Mehar.
The CEO acknowledged that SEPCO faces challenges such as a shortage of manpower, vehicles, skilled labor, and modern facilities, while the law and order situation also creates difficulties. However, despite all these problems, SEPCO’s performance has risen to 5th position among power companies. He informed that from December 1st to date, in 26 days, 757 complaints were received, out of which 752 have been promptly resolved. He stated that SEPCO’s standard is now becoming better than the old and stable company MEPCO, and the effort is to make SEPCO Pakistan’s number one power company through immediate complaint resolution.
Finally, addressing a message to labor and the union, he directed to respect consumers and resolve their genuine problems immediately so that the public does not have to make rounds of offices. In this regard, a positive and active role of the union is extremely necessary, he added.
The ceremony was attended by Superintendent Engineer Larkana, Mushtaq Hussain Burdi, Regional Chairman of SEPCO Hydro Union, Nisar Sheikh, Engineer of City Division, Asghar Sheikh, Engineer of Kambar Division, Altaf Kehar, Zonal Chairman, Abdullah Soomro, Information Secretary SEPCO Region, Mahmood Pathan, R.O Larkana City, Suhail Khowar; and R.O Rural, Riaz Sangi and a large number of SDOs from all sub-divisions and workers.