In a significant move to enhance public service, the Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Customer Service Center in Larkana. The facility was officially opened by SEPCO's Chief Executive Officer, Ijaz Ahmed Channa, on Sunday, marking a new chapter in consumer-centric utilities for the region.
Modernizing Consumer Services
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, CEO Ijaz Ahmed Channa outlined the vision behind the new center. He stated that these steps are being taken on the direct directives of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Awais Leghari. The goal is to transform SEPCO's customer services, making them standard, transparent, and effective.
A cornerstone of this modernization is the introduction of a modern complaint management system. Channa highlighted that the toll-free number 118 has been made completely free. This allows SEPCO's over 36 million consumers to register complaints without any balance deduction from their mobile phones. Furthermore, consumers will now receive continuous updates on the progress of their complaints until resolution.
Financial Turnaround and Anti-Theft Drive
The CEO revealed impressive figures showcasing SEPCO's financial recovery. He announced that in the past 14 months, the company's recovery increased by 70%, while line losses were reduced by 3%. In a remarkable achievement for the first six months of the current financial year, SEPCO saved the institution from a financial loss of 30 billion rupees.
Channa provided a broader industry context, noting that while the power sector suffered an overall loss of 600 billion rupees last year, power companies have collectively reduced losses by 200 billion rupees this year under the current leadership. He emphasized that with such improved institutional performance, the need for privatization diminishes.
On the critical issue of electricity theft, the SEPCO chief was unequivocal. He declared that electricity thieves are a cancer for society. In a vigorous crackdown over just six months, SEPCO has disconnected over 3,500 illegal (kunda) connections and registered theft cases against industrial consumers as well.
Addressing Challenges and Future Plans
While celebrating successes, CEO Channa acknowledged ongoing challenges. SEPCO faces a shortage of manpower, vehicles, skilled labor, and modern facilities, compounded by law and order issues. Despite these hurdles, SEPCO's performance has risen to the 5th position among power distribution companies in the country.
He shared specific data on complaint resolution, stating that from December 1st, in 26 days, 757 complaints were received, with 752 resolved promptly. The ambition, he stated, is to surpass even the older, stable companies like MEPCO and make SEPCO Pakistan's number one power company through immediate grievance redressal.
Looking ahead, Channa announced that following the Larkana center, a similar Customer Service Center will soon be inaugurated in Dadu. This new center will provide direct facilities to consumers in Dadu, Khairpur Nathan Shah, and Mehar.
Message to Workers and Union
In his concluding remarks, the CEO praised SEPCO workers, calling them the heroes and backbone of the institution who serve day and night in difficult conditions. He assured that the administration is making full efforts to improve their economic condition. Directing a message to the labor union, he stressed the extremely necessary positive and active role of the union in respecting consumers and resolving their genuine problems immediately to prevent the public from making rounds of offices.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior SEPCO officials including Superintendent Engineer Larkana Mushtaq Hussain Burdi, Regional Chairman of SEPCO Hydro Union Nisar Sheikh, and a large number of SDOs and workers from all sub-divisions.
