Background

To implement Indus Basin Treaty, WAPDA was formed as development organization in 1958. It achieved rapid growth in Power Sector up to 5th Five Year Plan, i.e. from 1960 to 1984. WAPDA Computer center was established in 1968. It was a time when computer technology was bleak to majority government organizations. With the passage of time, computer centre continued its expansion and established 25 Regional and Circle level data processing centers in all area electricity boards. The major millstone set for computer centre was the computerization of electricity billing which was met through in house development of billing software at then WAPDA Computer Center (WCC) HQ.

[div3 class="quote" class2="quote-l" class3="quote-r"]By 6th Five Year Plan (1984 - 1988), WAPDA grew into a giant vertical utility operated on bureaucratic procedures with inherent inefficiencies. In 7th five year plan 1989-1993 initiative was launched for restructuring of the Pakistan Power Sector. PEPCO was created as a Management Company, owned by Government of Pakistan, vested with the responsibility to steer, manage and oversee the Corporatization/ Commercialization of WAPDA Power Wing and prepare the corporatized entities for privatization as per GOP policy.[/div3]

In April 1998, revamping of WAPDA power sector resulted in formation of thirteen corporate entities, i.e. Eight Distribution Companies (DISCOs), one National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) and Four Generation Companies (GENCOs). The 25 Regional and circle level data processing centers were administratively attached with respective DISCOs and WCC (HQ) became the part of PEPCO with the name PEPCO Computer Center.

To achieve the objective of creating autonomous commercial entities through the adoption of prudent business practices enhanced efficiency levels, cost reduction and profit orientation, the need to use new technologies like IT was being felt since long. IT are technologies for processing information and transmitting it from one geographical point to another, from one person to another, to a group of people or to the whole community. The ever-increasing capacity of Information Technologies (IT) is further empowered by the rapid growth of a global network of computer networks and the Internet. These multiple convergences (ICT) have transformed the way in which business is conducted, revolutionized learning and knowledge sharing, generated global information flows and empowered citizens and communities in new ways that have redefined governance. Key benefits of ICT include:

• Fast, accurate, and consistent source of information (especially in repetitive activities)

• Helps in all management functions (Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, and Controlling)

• Effective implementation of policies/procedures

• Drill down facility to locate gray areas of business

• Provide artificial intelligence to staff.

• Helps in controlling human behavior

Before and after revamping of WAPDA, IT solutions were implemented in piece meal in different departments. Most of these efforts were local & non-standardized and no concrete effort could be made at PEPCO level in this direction. However after recognizing the importance and the potential of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and to efficiently plan and upgrade the existing ICT/IS of all the corporatized entities, PEPCO Computer Center was given the status of independent company in 2010, i.e. Power Information Technology Company (PITC).