Dawn quoted the Karachi Electric Supply Company as saying that the Pakistan State Oil Company had denied provision of furnace oil to them on discounted rates.

According to KESC officials the initiative taken by PSO was against government orders. The KESC sources warned that load shedding would be increased to fourteen hours starting tomorrow morning if furnace oil was not provided to them on discounted price rates.

Mr Syed Qaim Ali Shah CM of Sindh had directed the PSO to provide furnace oil to the KESC on discounted rates whenever the Bhit gas field was on maintenance. Meanwhile, PSO officials claimed to have received no such written notification for the furnace supply.

Meanwhile, Sources said that due to non payment of last year’s bills PSO was unable to provide furnace oil on discounted rates.

(Sourced from www.dawn.com)