The power distribution companies, facilitating the socio-economic uplift of the country in general and of rural areas in particular, provided electricity to as many as 4005 villages during the first half of the current fiscal year, and the number of electrified villages in Pakistan has risen to 85,030 by the end 2004. The village electrification is a vital factor in narrowing the socio-economic disparity between urban and rural population. Provision of electricity not only help in bringing remote areas at par with developed ones, but also open new horizons of awareness for the masses through access to media.

According to the break up, 471 villages were electrified in Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco), 340 in Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco), 281 in Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), 222 in Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), 953 in Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco), 608 in Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco), 693 in Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and 437 villages were electrified in Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) during July-December, 2004.

It is pertinent to mention that there were only 609 electrified villages in Pakistan when provincial electricity departments were handed over to Wapda in 1959. The total number of villages is about 125,083. Of those, 85,030 villages have already been energised.

As per statistics regarding the progress on rural electrification during the last 45 years, the highest number of villages, was energised during 1990s. Similarly, the record 7,193 villages during in one fiscal year were electrified in 2003-04.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005