MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari has sought support from Chief Ministers to curb electricity theft which is around Rs 60 billion per annum through deployment of security enforcement agencies to Discos staff and installations.

He shared the details of theft with the Chief Ministers i.e. Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Murad Ali Shah, Pervez Khattak and Abdul Quddus Bizenjo through letters seeking assistance from provincial administrations to arrest those engaged in electricity theft.

The Minister complained that in March 2018, he wrote letters to the Chief Ministers for a meeting but his request has not been entertained by them so far.

According to the Ministry, electricity theft in the areas of Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has been calculated at Rs 6.6 billion, Mepco Rs 3.03 billion, Fesco, Rs 1.5 billion, Gepco, Rs 1.002 billion and Iesco Rs 220 million.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) electricity theft is around Rs 23.48 billion whereas in Sindh, the volume of theft in Hesco was Rs 6.78 billion and Sepco Rs 9.721 billion. Electricity theft in Balochistan has been calculated at Rs 6.75 billion.

The Minister also shared the number of required vehicles and staff members required to deal with theft with the Chief Ministers.