Employees of electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) consumed free electricity worth Rs. 8.19 billion in 2022, according to Senator Mushtaq Ahmed.
In a post on X, the Senator highlighted that according to data provided by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), power sector employees consumed 340 million free electricity units. As many as 189,000 employees benefited from free electricity units, he added.
The Senator also said that in the last 15 months, monetary losses on account of power theft have cost the country Rs. 500 billion. The Senator also highlighted that action was taken against 743 power sector employees for facilitating the theft of electricity.
Out of those who faced action, 422 belonged to Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), 124 were working for Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), while 118 were employees of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO).
How much free electricity do employees get?
According to Ahmed, Grade 16 officers are given 300 free units every month, Grade 17 officers get 450 units and Grade 18 officials are provided with 600 units every month.
Grade 19 and Grade 20 officers are provided with 880 units and 1,110 units respectively, while Grade 21 and 22 get 1,300 free units every month.
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Their pays are much lower than industry standards. If they don’t get limited free units and other help they will demand industry pay. That increase will be far more than 8 billion a year.
Instead of focusing on 8 billion of “free” units the government and people should worry about over 500 billion of power theft by all walks of life. Focus on punishing gov employees that facilitate this theft and also punish the thief (including very powerful ones)
Finally you said it government needs to shift power to provinces few provinces should have expensive electricity. 8 billion is nothing it will not matter much. now people want government to give subsidy upto 300 units is this even possible.
Which industry standards are you comparing? Even if we agree it is below standards let them feel the heat by removing this free gift. Grade 18 officers getting 600 free units is almost 50000 rs free electricity per month which is more likely half the salary of this grade.
Anyway the main demand should be reduction in cost of electricity and taxes. I have got 33000 bill with a little over 500 units with barely using 1 AC at 55 Rs/unit. 55 Rs/unit, thats insane and it is highest in the world even by dollar standards. Not to mention that the same units would cost less than half last year and even 1 fourth a year before. That is insane level of inflation. What is our mistake in this. These corrupts are enjoying and we pay their price. This has to stop. I have not paid the bill. Let them cut the connection.
Totally agree. Government employees deserve more. They are running Pakistan in a most efficient manner. Ordinary civilians are just jealous of Government employees and that is a fact.
Well all above commentators seems to be the beneficiaries of those consumed units just as a spectator.
While govt. officials are getting free electricity units, poor people are committing suicide due to inflated bills. Moreover, many government organizations are defaulters of billions of rupees, the cost of which is borne by honest residential consumers by different tactics of DISCOs.
In PESCO all employees from line man to CEO are involved in theft. Unless and until Gov will not send them home situation will not improve. Privatise DISCOS and send all current employees to Home.
Please increase it to 80 or 100 Billion Rupees. Government employees deserve far better facilities. All government employees should get free electricity rather than senior officers only. Remember At present Pakistan has more than 30 Lakh government employees. Government jobs are indirectly feeding crores of people.
These employees not only enjoying free electricity but also facilitators of theft of electricity as shown above. They are also collaborator in facilitating low cost electricity to industrial units established secretly in residential areas. A collective failure of wapda as well where it is not allowing locals of far off areas to generate their local electricity through solar, water and other recycle means. instead it pleas that we can not afford to lose our business. they are squezing people of Pakistan for their personal interests. i have seen 1248 units bill of a wapda official with 716 rupees payment amount. it is irrational approach. we as a nation cant afford to produce the electricity by furnace oil and distribute it free. over and above there are no late charges for their late payment although rest of pakistan is not facilitated like that. why we awam are treated differently?
Massive reforms are required and for those reforms the govt needs more money. The way to earn money is increasing the consumer cost of goods (electricity, fuel, income tax). Lets pay more taxes so the govt can earn more.