22,200 Power Theft Cases Registered In 3 Months: Energy Secretary

To counter Rs1.5 billion worth of line losses and electricity theft, the federal government has constituted task forces in all four provinces across the country

SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jan, 2019 ) :To counter Rs1.5 billion worth of line losses and electricity theft, the Federal government has constituted task forces in all four provinces across the country.

This was stated by Provincial Secretary for Energy Amir Jan at a press briefing here on Tuesday. He said that Punjab was the only province where electricity theft and line losses were less than other provinces.

He said that during the last three months, over 22,200 electricity theft cases had been registered in Punjab and 2,300 people arrested. An online system had also been introduced for complaints registration regarding power theft, he added.

He said that deputy commissioners were heading the task forces in districts, which were taking strict action against those involved in electricity theft.

He asked task forces to conduct meetings on weekly basis and pursue all registered cases and recover pending dues.

Chief Engineer FESCO Shafiq-ul-Hassan told the meeting that 95 per cent recovery targets had been set for the Sargodha division and line losses ratio had also been decreased from 4.9 to 3.9 per cent.

A total of 420 electricity theft cases were registered in the district, he said and added that two officials of FESCO were also punished for conniving with the power pilferers. A total of Rs5.3 million recoveries had also been made, he added.