Roughly 190,000 employees of power generation companies (GENCOs) and distribution companies (DISCOs) used free electricity worth Rs. 10.5 billion in fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23), according to official documents seen by ProPakistani.
The data reveals that employees from various DISCOs, GENCOs, and National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited (NTDC), availed a staggering 35.56 million free units during FY23.
The document further breaks down the usage, indicating that a staggering 189,985 employees from Grade 1 to Grade 22, benefited from the free electricity. Even retired employees were included in this group, enjoying a portion of the allocated free units, the document said.
Among the power companies, 34,488 employees of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) utilized free electricity worth Rs. 2.827 billion, followed by 20,834 employees of Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) who got units worth Rs. 1.135 billion free of charge.
Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), Sukkur Electric Supply Company (SEPCO), and Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO) disbursed the remaining free units.
Documents showed the distribution of free units varied per employee grade. GENCO employees of Grade 1-4 received 300 units per month, while Grade 5-16 officers got 600 units monthly. The allowances increased to 650-700 units for Grade 17-18 officers, respectively. Grade 19-20 employees received 1,000 units each, whereas Grade 21-22 officers were granted 1,300 units on a monthly basis.
Interestingly, retired GENCO employees receive half the entire number of free units awarded to active officers in the same grade.
Similarly, DISCOs and NTDC employees received free units. Grades 1-4 officers received 100 units per month, Grade 5-15 were entitled to 200 free units, while Grade 16-17 were awarded 300-450 units, respectively. Employees in Grade 18-19 consumed 800-880 units, while Grade 20-22 officers got 1,100-1,300 units per month.
Retired employees of DISCOs and NTDC were awarded free units the same way as GENCOs, receiving half the entire number of free units awarded to active officers in the same grade.
The Term “Free Electricity” is not correct. Yes this electricity is free to us employees (Because it’s a part of our contract, same as other departments offer their employees benefits). But the companies we work for (NTDC, discos etc) they pay for these units.
It’s people of Pakistan who pay for these “free” units.
Seems like you have no understanding of how it works, these companies pay for it but it is paid from govt money (they are not private companies). So its the taxpayers who is basically paying your bills, that is why it is ‘free electricity’ and that is why the govt is planning to end it.
All govt employees are paid from the public money for the services they offer to the public or in the interest of the public. Power sector employees are offering their services, sacrificing their lives for a stable power supply system…
The so called free units are not free, but part of the employment contract , and employees are taxed for this facility.
Anyhow, if ending this facility is necessary, then it must be across the board. All such perks& privileges, allowances and facilities must cease for all sectors, be it the holy cow, i.e. the army or the so called armed forces, the judiciary, the bureaucrates, or any other deptt.
Only one sector shouldn’t be made a scapegoat.
It is not paid by government.The discos and NTDCL generat there own funds.
These units are not free at all, but paid for by the concerned company, as this facility is part of the package/salary offered to the employees. Power sector employees pay taxes for these facilities.
Similar facilities, perks and privileges are offered to their employees by different departments including army, judiciary, ssgc, sngpl, PIA, railway, educational departments, etc.
Term free electricity is wrong.. sure wrong.. electricity units paid by others..
Total lie .it’s not free departments pay the price
Its false information spread through media.
They have printed an whole article but they not bother to collect facts.
Actually these units are not free or their cost not beared by common citizen but their parent company which employeed them as FESCO or LESCO etc beared the cost as contracted in employment terms and conditions.
Pakistan zanda baad all people is right used power ore not confirmed to suprecourt patishion submitted
Stop all benefits of government employees, we already paid it trem of salary, I think is enough for these proples, or they not proper work.
Only in Pakistan corrupt nation
In a country where most people live in the dark, get roasted in summers, and freeze in winters because there is excessive loadshedding, these employees mentioned in the article are leading a luxurious life. Whether they are given free units or these units are monetized, this entire concept is criminality of the highest order. My humble small house has never more than two lights on at a time and most of the time it is in darkness. My neighbour, a WAPDA employee keeps the lights of his house on the year around. This happens only in Pakistan. I am afraid this will go on because mafias rule the country. Highly condemnable and most unfortunate!
Very well said
These free units be the part of the package, but to avoid discrimination, the salary should be raised and the employee should pay his bill himself so that he could use it rationaly
Free electricity units enjoyed by employees are not generated free. For those units also fuel used is imported and the cost calculated. Finally it is paid by taxpayer. Under the prevailing financial conditions , nation can not afford such perks. This facility should be taken back from all govt employees across the board.
Lower staff takes 600 pm that is ok but officers not oermitted 650
Ye free ni hi its part of our pay pkg and offerd by department to retain employees.its and facility for hard working employees with keep light On and give sacrifire if own life.then calculation might be wrong need correction and its is also allowed to other dept employees with have no contribution and FBR employees take bonus on the recovery which is obtained by wapda employees through hectic efforts from consumers in shape of diff taxes
Govt employees are not given market based salaries. Instead they are given lesser salaries with free supply and other such benefits as part of pay.
Now employees are been given an equivalent amount of allowance in their salaries, so what is the difference.
However, I suggest market based salaries should be given to all without any other benefits. But can the Govt. afford that sort of billions ?
The question is WHY. Government employees do the minimum of work against private sector.
THEN WHY FREE???
janab free bijli gas ky mazy ly ly k power compnies ka khassara 2900 araab ruppees tak chala gya..yha muft khoriyan har gov ky mehkmy se khtam honi chahiye..
The electricity pricing system in Pakistan seems flawed; the more you purchase, the higher the cost—an unconventional rule. Unlike other parts of the world offering discounts to bulk buyers, Pakistan follows a structure where the initial units cost less than subsequent ones. Unfortunately, this system lacks concessions for economically disadvantaged families. The repercussions extend to industries, with the textile sector in Pakistan being adversely affected, leading to a significant downturn attributed to the ongoing energy crisis