KARACHI: On Friday, the Sindh cabinet voiced its opposition to the power distribution companies (Discos)’ collective punishment of prolonged loadshedding and urged the federal government to make changes to load management laws.
The cabinet also called “unconstitutional” the practice of Discos shutting down an entire area’s power feeder under the guise of not paying bills or losing lines.
According to official sources, the provincial cabinet meeting, which was presided over by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, discussed the issue of loadshedding throughout the province and observed that the line losses caused by power theft by some consumers could not be attributed to the public.
The Cabinet was informed by Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah that the Discos shut down an entire feeder area on the pretext of power theft and nonpayment. He added that the inefficiency of the electricity distribution companies’ revenue collection system was to blame for line losses or technical losses.
He advised the cabinet to approach the government to prevent Discos from shutting down the entire feeder of any area due to power theft or line losses.
Additionally, the minister urged the cabinet to seek amendments to the current laws allowing economic loadshedding and argued that the load management laws violated Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law, resulting in discriminatory practices.
He also mentioned that five Discos, including K-Electric and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco), were fined Rs50 million at a recent public hearing organized by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for excessive loadshedding in 2022.
The Discos, according to the chief minister, could not impose line losses or technical losses on all residents of the region.
He continued, “It is an injustice that the electricity distribution companies switch off the entire feeder if a few people are not paying their bills. Even to meet the line or technical losses, customers are penalized, which is unconstitutional.”
He stated that electricity theft should be prevented by the utilities themselves.
The CM requested that the provincial cabinet’s recommendations be sent to the federal government by the energy department.
The minimum wage for unskilled laborers was approved by the cabinet to increase from Rs32,000 to Rs37,000 for the fiscal years 2024 and 2025.
It supported the lowest pay permitted by law for untalented specialists at Rs37,000, semi-gifted Rs38,280, talented Rs45,910 and high-talented Rs47,868.
More than Rs69 million approved for 485 police stations The provincial cabinet approved Rs69.2 million for 485 police stations, including Rs33.8 million for 78 police stations in the Karachi Division.
There are 407 police stations in the other divisions, and their budget would be Rs35.4 million.
Additionally, an amendment to the Sindh Police Financial Powers Rules 2019 that grants a SHO of grade 16 the authority to draw Rs200,000 per month was approved by the cabinet.
The health department requested that the cabinet approve the surrender of 731 redundant positions in each teaching hospital, resulting in a savings of Rs336.729 million annually. Additionally, the cabinet approved the creation of 434 clinical care positions, resulting in a savings of Rs1.16 billion annually, in order to hire staff on a contract basis in place of the surrendered positions in each teaching hospital in the best interest of the public.
The cabinet approved the transfer of nine dispensaries upgraded to the level of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) centers to a non-governmental organization called HELP to run them around the clock on the recommendation of the health department. District Tharparkar’s outlying areas are home to these MCHCs.
The chief minister ordered the department to set up day care centers in each district for which it would submit proposals.
Dr. Wasif Ali Memon’s contract as chairman of the Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) was extended from November 2024 to December 2025 by the cabinet on the recommendation of the finance department.
