KESC suspended its field operations

The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has suspended its field operations and has announced that all offices will remain closed until the government acts against union protestors in Karachi.

As a result of suspending operations, the KESC now says that 90 exempted feeders working on the primary grid were running short of furnace oil. A KESC spokesperson warned that the city could face an electricity shortfall of up to 800 MW with airports, hospitals, and water pumping stations to be affected.

The KESC spokesperson said that furnace  oil is arranged on a day-to-day basis and they could only maintain an out put of 1500 MW without furnace oil.

The company’s central offices have been in a virtual siege by its protesting workers. They attacked a police vehicle taking food for the police officers stationed in the KESC office. Beating the driver and the vehicle with sticks, they wasted the food and forced the vehicle to retreat.

The Deputy Commissioner, and then the Commissioner of the city engaged with the CBA union in a bid to resolve the situation and allow KESC to resume regular operations.

The power company has sent a letter to Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad, conveying its apprehensions against union workers. A meeting between the Governor,  KESC officials and workers union has now been fixed for 3 pm on Thursday afternoon at the governor house.

KESC spokesperson Ghufran Ahmed Khan said the company is demanding a secure working environment and the government should immediately take action against those who have taken the law into their own hands.

He said it was unfair to ask KESC workers to go out into the field if law enforcement agencies were mere spectators and were not protecting the people.

“Human life has importance and we do not want to risk our people’s lives,” said the KESC spokesperson.

The KESC says protestors have been creating hurdles for field operation teams and has demanded that the government provide protection to company staffers.

Union workers have been protesting against KESC’s decision to sack non-core employees if they do not accept the Voluntary Separation Scheme.