A six-month delay in appointing contractors in MEPCO Division Mailsi has left damaged poles and low-hanging wires posing safety risks in several areas. Officials say tenders will be issued soon, while residents say complaints have brought no concrete action.
MAILSI: A prolonged delay in issuing tenders for contractors in the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) Division Mailsi has pushed the electricity transmission system into a fragile state, raising concerns over public safety and potential supply disruptions.
No contractor has been appointed for the past six months due to administrative lapses within MEPCO’s Vehari Operation Circle, effectively halting critical maintenance work across the division.
As a result, the installation of new electricity poles and the replacement of damaged infrastructure has nearly stopped, despite many consumers having already paid demand notices for new connections.
The situation has deteriorated further following recent rains and windstorms, which have weakened already compromised infrastructure. In multiple localities — including Chak 145-WB, Abbas Nagar, Lalipur, Basti Man Garh and Dokota — dozens of poles are reported to be broken, tilted or in severely dilapidated condition.
Instead of permanent replacements, temporary and reportedly unsafe fixes are being used to keep electricity flowing, increasing the risk of accidents.
Residents say the threat is immediate. Irfan Mahmood, a local resident, said a damaged pole near his home poses constant danger to children and pedestrians. Another resident, Muhammad Aslam, pointed out that low-hanging wires in his area are dangerously close to the ground, heightening the risk of electrocution.
Officials at the sub-division level maintain that all procedural requirements for replacing poles have been completed, but work cannot begin without the formal appointment of a contractor.
Consumers, however, say repeated complaints have led to no tangible action.
Sources added that other divisions under MEPCO, including Vehari and Burewala, continue to operate with functional contractors and ongoing maintenance work — highlighting what locals describe as administrative negligence specific to Mailsi.
A MEPCO lineman, speaking on condition of anonymity, said field staff are working under extreme pressure and hazardous conditions, often climbing damaged poles to restore supply, putting their lives at serious risk.
Community leaders have urged MEPCO Chief Executive Jam Gul Muhammad Zahid to intervene immediately, appoint contractors on an emergency basis, and ensure timely replacement of unsafe infrastructure to prevent any loss of life or property.
Meanwhile, Additional Chief Engineer Azmatullah Khan said tenders would be issued soon and steps were being taken to resolve the issue.
