PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) disconnected power supply to the building of the former Fata Secretariat here on Thursday over non-payment of dues, disrupting the affairs of several government offices working on the premises.

However, Pesco insisted that the suspension of electric supply to departments other than the health directorate happened due to a technical fault that was fixed in the afternoon. Officials told Dawn that the power dues amounting to Rs10 million up to June 17 were reconciled.

However, an official said that the power utility severed the centralised electricity connection of the entire secretariat just on the plea that the DG (health) former Fata owed it some dues from their old office on the Khyber Road.

He said that senior Pesco officials were contacted by authorities but the former didn`t budge.

The complex houses offices of the directorate general (health) and mines and minerals, according to a statement issued here.

On Wednesday evening, the power utility severed the complex`s electric supply, so officials of several departments were unable to perform any of their tasks. They demanded action against Pesco over power disconnection.

However, a spokesman for Pesco said the health directorate had to pay Rs12.2 million to the power utility.

`We severed power supply to the health department due to the non-payment of dues. However, power supply of other departments was affected by a technical fault, he told Dawn.

The spokesman said that it was a false impression that other departments` power supply was also disconnected.

`We have restored power supply to the secretariat,` he said.