ISLAMABAD - Wafaqi Mohtasib M Salman Faruqui while taking notice of faulty billing and distribution system directed the public utility companies to fix due date for payment of their bills up to the 7th day of every month instead of last dates.
Likewise, the bills should be delivered at least 10 days ahead of the due date, observed the Mohtasib while hearing public complaints against mal-administration of various power and gas supply companies.
The Wafaqi Mohtasib gave these directions upon observing that the due date for payment of bills are being fixed on the last dates of the month, which creates hardship for the low income groups and the salaried class. The consumers get their salaries during the first week of the month, while the due dates for utility bills are fixed in the last dates of the month. Therefore, they are unable to pay the bills on time, resulting in disconnection, due to non-payment of bills, for no fault of theirs. Besides this, they are also subjected to payment of surcharges on overdue payments, which seems unjustified.
Similarly, the bills are usually left/delivered at various shops and other places by the distributors and the consumers are expected to collect them. The Wafaqi Mohtasib observed that this attitude constitutes an act of mal-administration on the part of the utility companies, as the bills are not delivered in a proper manner.
Wafaqi Mohtasib Salman Faruqui has directed the chairman WAPDA, chief executive officer, K-electric and the managing directors of SNGPL and SSGCL to personally look into the matter and issue specific instructions for making changes in the issuance and due dates for the utility bills as well as for rectification of the distribution system as per the directions of the Wafaqi Mohtasib. They have been further asked to report the compliance within a period of one month.