Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the campaign against electricity and gas theft was continuing throughout the province and that the theft of billions of rupees had been detected so far.
He was presiding over a high-level meeting which reviewed the progress of the ongoing campaign against electricity and gas thieves.
Industry Secretary and Eradication of Gas and Electricity Theft Taskforce Chairman Irfan Ali, Sui Northern Gas’s MD, the Operations DIG, the Lahore DCO and other officers concerned attended the meeting.
He said that the crackdown against gas and electricity thieves would continue, adding that besides transparency, the legal demands and merit would also be kept in view during the crackdown.
Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz said that the country was facing a serious energy crisis, adding that while the nation was plunged into darkness, thieves were moving freely.
Shahbaz said that in such a situation, the national responsibility of eradicating electricity and gas theft would be fulfilled at every cost. He directed the officials concerned for ensuring transparency during the campaign and that the demands of justice should be fulfilled.
He directed them not to show any leniency towards these thieves and that action should be taken against the government officials involved in this heinous act.
Furthermore, he said that on the directions of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, the crackdown against electricity and gas theft was ongoing.
While expressing his satisfaction over the pace of the anti-electricity and gas theft campaign, Shahbaz directed the Taskforce’s Chairman to ensure that the officials concerned should not misuse their powers.