Islamabad, Aug 27: According to Federal Minister of Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, dependable reforms to the power sector and a reduction in line losses will lower the cost of producing energy as an action plan is being established in this regard.
The minister stated during a meeting held at the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) office that “an action plan is on the anvil to introduce reliable reforms to the power sector to minimize line losses, bring down the cost of production and pass its benefits on to consumers.”
Leghari’s comments follow Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s declaration last week that the government is committed to addressing power-related concerns, such as preventing electricity theft, cutting line losses, and enhancing the nation’s power distribution firms (Discos).
On August 18, the prime minister gave the minister and secretary of the power division instructions to work with the provinces on issues pertaining to the sector, such as disco performance and stopping electricity theft.
Leghari said during the meeting that the electricity theft issue had been contained by revolutionary measures implemented on the prime minister’s specific orders, and he hoped that theft would soon be cut by an additional 40%.
Leghari described electricity theft as a severe blow to the country’s economy, but he also pointed out that the government was acting decisively to solve the problem.
In order to prevent power theft and improve customer services, he also informed the audience those impartial and apolitical individuals had been appointed to the Boards of Directors (BODs) of distribution firms (Discos).
Leghari continued, saying that Discos had been given the authority to handle electricity theft and that offenders will face unbiased consequences.
He praised FESCO’s performance and emphasized that power theft was a problem that the entire nation was
facing, and that the government was determined to tackle it head-on.
The minister gave FESCO officers and employees strict instructions to make sure recoveries are made and to work tirelessly toward permanently and sustainably ending power theft.
Leghari stated, “In cooperation with the Punjab government, electricity consumers have been granted a relief of Rs45 billion to help ease bill payments,” and he urged FESCO personnel to maximize amenities for customers.
Earlier, FESCO CEO Engineer Muhammad Amir gave a presentation on the company’s overall performance. He disclosed that since September 2023, over 11,000 incidences of power theft had been discovered, and 8,300 people had been arrested.
Amir further stated that fines totaling 27.16 million units, or Rs. 847.88 million, had been imposed on electricity pilferers, and that five FESCO personnel had been arrested and 27 others suspended pending investigations.
The meeting was also attended by Federal Secretary for Energy Dr Muhammad Fakhar Alam Irfan, Chairman PPMC Saqib Jamal, Chairman FECO BoD Umar Farooq, and board members Amir Zia and Mohtarma Zoi Khursheed Khan.
