The federal government has announced plans to establish specialized units aimed at aiding power distribution companies (DISCOs) in recovering unpaid electricity bills.
These support units will involve personnel from intelligence agencies such as ISI and MI, operating under the DISCOs’ CEOs and alongside a civil armed forces sector commander who will serve as co-director, reporting directly to the Power Division secretary.
The proposal for these units has been forwarded to the Cabinet Committee for Energy for imminent approval. Initially, the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) will pilot the first unit, with potential expansion to other cities contingent on its success.
This initiative is crucial as DISCOs face the challenge of recovering Rs. 1,780 billion in outstanding dues.
According to a report last year, in four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P)—Bannu, DI Khan, Tank, and Shangla—100% of consumers were not paying electricity bills.
Similarly, around 90% of people in districts like Pasni, Gwadar, Makran, Khuzdar, and Lorelai in Balochistan accessed electricity through illegal connections.
Over a year, DISCOs purchased 116.5 billion units of electricity, selling 97.34 billion units to consumers while 19.17 billion units were lost to theft or technical deficiencies. Notably, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) incurred significant losses, with 5.7 billion units valued at Rs77 billion stolen within a year.
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One can only laugh at such a ridiculous move. If the government cannot do anything on its own, it has no right to do the abnormal. It is better if governance is outsourced and China will be the best country in this regard.
As a common man and a civilian, I hate such steps.
This is wonderful report of the situation in different parts of the country. For God sake, change this situation. How long this situation can be continued? Please stop this situation before every thing is lost. Why this situation is not named as theft of electricity rather recovery of bill? Why people in govt. Are afraid to say theft as theft.
Why MI and ISI ? Is intelligence of people is required? The regular armed forces can assist the Electricity Companies very well as done in General Mushraf era