Govt Launches Crackdown Against Worst-Performing Power Officials

The federal government has launched a nationwide accountability drive against power distribution company officials, with more than 100 officers facing disciplinary action for poor performance in handling consumer complaints.

Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari directed all power distribution companies (DISCOs) to initiate immediate action against their worst-performing Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and Executive Engineers (XENs) based on complaint resolution data from the national 118 Call Centre system, also known as CCMS PLUS.

Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) have become the first utilities to act on the directive. PESCO suspended three SDOs and one XEN, while SEPCO suspended one SDO and one XEN for failing to meet complaint resolution targets.

According to the Power Division, the performance review covered the period from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the officers’ handling of consumer complaints, saying the 118 platform was created to ensure citizens receive timely responses to electricity-related issues.

The accountability campaign is being expanded across all major DISCOs, including LESCO, GEPCO, FESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, HAZECO, HESCO, QESCO, and TESCO. Officials said more than 100 SDOs and XENs have been identified as poor performers and could face disciplinary measures ranging from show-cause notices and suspensions to transfers from operational roles.

Leghari also directed DISCOs to introduce enhanced weekly monitoring of complaint resolution performance at divisional and sub-divisional levels. He warned that officers who continue to perform poorly could face stricter penalties, including compulsory retirement in severe cases.

The move comes as the government seeks to improve service delivery in the power sector amid persistent consumer complaints regarding outages, billing issues, and delayed responses from electricity distribution companies.

The minister said poor complaint management was not merely an administrative issue but a failure to serve citizens, adding that the government would continue to hold officials accountable for service standards.