KARACHI: Office of Electric Inspector Karachi Region-I, under Energy Department, government of Sindh is dead horse for Karachiites.

Its strength is declared as Electric Inspector (Regional Head), 8 Assistant Electric Inspectors, an Office Superintendent, 11 Electric Sub Inspectors and 31 ministerial Staff. However, according to informed sources its efficiency since last two decades is being considered null and void.  Amazingly post of Electric Inspector is occupied by single person namely Muhammad Hashim Rahupoto since year 2009 till today-long period of about 15 years. His duties include main functions of Electric Inspectorates to implement Electricity Act 1910 and Electricity Rules 1937. To conduct initial and periodical inspections of electrical installations. He has to collect electricity duty from licensee as well as from non-licensee under Finance Act 1964 and Electricity Duty Rules 1964 made there under. Electric Inspector is also Secretary Licensing Board of his region.

Secretary Licensing Board has to conduct meeting of Board to issue new licenses for electrical contractors, exemptions of Supervisor examination to conduct examination for competency certificates of wireman and electrical supervisor. Electric Inspector is also assigned as an arbitrator to settle disputes in between consumer and licensees.  However, frequent incidents of fire due to electric short circuits in shopping plazas and residential centers are witnessing inefficiency of this vital and sensitive department. Hundreds of arbitration cases of consumers against distribution company K-Electric are pushed into cold storage just to save skin of corrupt management but ruining lives of innocent consumers due to arbitrarily disconnecting residential and commercial power supplies, over-billing without any justification and fake theft cases through illegal use of police have been harassing people in metropolitan. 

Hashim Rahupoto is responsible for deciding electricity billing/other related disputes, conducting electrical supervisor and wireman examinations. This includes enquire into fatal and non-fatal accidents occurring due to electric hazards/shocks too.  Periodical inspections are suspended vide letter No. SOPP-9/1-72 August 13, 2003 for purpose of streamlining work which yet has not been done.  Situation is causing revenue loss of government on which audit paras were also raised by audit department.