The Auditor General of Pakistan has revealed large-scale irregularities in the disbursement of COVID-19 relief subsidies by power distribution companies (DISCOs), raising concerns over weak monitoring of government support programs during the pandemic.
According to the special audit report, subsidies worth billions under the Rs106 billion relief package for small and medium industries (2019–2021) were misused. More than one million ineligible consumers were included in the scheme, some of them involved in power theft or using illegal connections.
The audit highlighted that 588 electricity thieves were given benefits, while over 144,000 defaulters received subsidies amounting to Rs1.39 billion. Nearly 97,000 consumers got Rs1 billion without proper verification, and many industrialists availed multiple connections under the same identity card.
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The report also disclosed that Rs7.7 billion in subsidies went to consumers registered after the package deadline, while around 57,000 new connection holders and over 11,000 individuals without proof of permanent addresses were also added to the beneficiaries list. Additionally, Rs2.43 billion was disbursed as excess subsidies.
The revelations cast doubt on the transparency of the government’s COVID-19 relief efforts and point to significant lapses in compliance with directives from the Power Division and Power Information Company.
