Reports claimed that Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's secretariat failed to pay the dues to the Islamabad Electric Supply Company, resulting in power cut in the PM's office
Islamabad: There were power cuts in the Pakistan Prime Minister's secretariat as it owes money to the electricity board, reports said on Thursday (August 29).
Pakistan government is yet to pay over Rs 41 lakh to the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO). Till July the due was Rs 35 lakh and has been increased by Rs 6 lakh, media reports said.
It is said that IESCO had sent a number of reminders but the PM's secretariat failed to make the payments.
"This is a recurrent problem with the secretariat. We will cut off the power supply if dues are not paid," an IESCO source said, reported Khaleej Times.
Among the South Asian nations, Pakistan's power cut problems have worsened over the years. In summer, there is half-a-day power cut in most regions, say reports.
Prime Minister Imran Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf, in its manifesto, before the election in 2013, said it would end power outages before the next poll.
It is said that after Khan became prime minister, power cuts and load shedding was reduced from about 12 hours a day to occasional outages now but only in urban areas. Rural areas continue to face power cuts for 12 hours a day.
Pakistan is facing economic crisis for the past couple of years. Debts, rampant corruption and unemployment along with inflation and widening fiscal deficit are the biggest problems being faced by the country.
Reports claimed that annual fiscal deficit of Pakistan rose to 8.9% for the financial year 2018-19. It is the highest in the last three decades.
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