Issues to be resolved via dialogue, not violence: Karachi Electric Supply Company Chief

Karachi: The Karachi Electric Supply Company has expressed hope that the issues faced by the citizens of Karachi in reference to difficulties in power supply system would be resolved through negotiations and in legal manner.

Mr. Tabish Gauhar, CEO of KESC, on Wednesday said that the Government needs to implement law in regards to the sabotaging attempts to disrupt the distribution system and repair and maintenance work.

“A handful of hooligans have been trying to make the KESC and the 2 million power users of the City as hostages since May 9, and to some extent they have been successful in their nefarious designs. The negative impact of this situation has directly been disrupting the City life and disturbing the citizens. The Government has a responsibility to protect the power supply system, KESC assets and personnel, in order to release the helpless consumers from the misery of prolonged local faults and outages resulting out of sabotage and violence,” he said.

The CEO maintained that the issues between the management and employees of the utility could only be resolved either through the ongoing talks or in courts. “We have made it clear to the CBA that our foremost priority is to normalize power supply system in the City as soon as possible. We have also pointed out that in spite of the talks being held between the management and the CBA Union, the violent attacks on KESC offices, harassment of employees and blocking of maintenance mechanism has not yet stopped. The CBA has yet to play its positive role in the best interests of the KESC and its consumers,” he stated.

On Wednesday, the KESC offices in State Life Building and the Fleet Management Department in Qayyumabad were forcibly vacated by hooligans through threats and pestering and the on-duty employees were pushed out. The saboteurs also damaged OCB Trolley in PECHS affecting local and outgoing power sources, thereby restraining power supply through six sub stations and 11 PMTs in Block 6.

For more information, contact:
Adil Murtaza
Assistant Manager, Media and PR
Karachi Electric Supply Company Limited (KESC)
2nd Floor, State Life Building No 11,
Abdullah Haroon Road, Saddar, Karachi
Tel: +9221 9920 7163
Cell: +92346 822 3641
Email: adil.murtaza@kesc.com.pk