The Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO) Anti-Electricity Theft Squad, during its campaign against power theft, has apprehended 105 electricity thieves and recovered Rs 37,947,668.
In a recent operation, LESCO registered 63 FIRs and recovered the money in detection bills. As many as three FIRs and Rs 2,309,274 were recovered in Northern Circle, Rs 2,732,620 in Central Circle, four FIRs and Rs 2,928,871 in Eastern Circle, nine FIRs and Rs 3,077,899 in Okara Circle, four FIRs and Rs 6,128,199 in Southern Circle, 43 FIRs and Rs 10,976, 141 in Sheikupura Circle, and Rs 2,309,274 from Kasur Circle charged as detection bills.
The LESCO raiding teams, in a joint operation with Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL), also arrested eight people including a meter inspector of LESCO. The accused have been sent behind bars after cases were registered against them, and equipment such as gas generators was confiscated.
The task force teams, in a raid on Al-Shafi Steel Mill Daroghawala, captured factory owner Muhammad Faisal and Meter Inspector Abdul Aziz. Apparently, his factory had been stealing electricity since 2006.
Rasheed Steel Mill was also raided and factory owner Muhamma Rasheed and his two sons, Waheed Rasheed and Siddique Rasheed, were also arrested.
A third raid at Data Steel Mill Momin Pura also revealed gas theft, but the factory owner managed to escape from the raiding team.
Raids around Ahmed Town caught seven factories including Nimko, Foundry and Ceramic stealing gas from the main pipeline. These factories have been sealed and cases have been registered against Aftab, Imam Bux and Muhammad Asif.
Lahore District Coordination Officer (DCO) Naseem Sadiq said he appreciated the action of these task force teams and said they would continue their operation in the upcoming days. Furthermore, LESCO’s newly appointed chief executive has reiterated that control over power theft will reduce load shedding.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Industrial and Traders Association Front (PIAF) has extended its support to the crackdown on power and gas pilferage, saying that it will help ensure uninterrupted gas and electricity supply to the industry.
PIAF Chairman Malik Tahir Javaid said that huge line losses standing at 25 percent need to be curbed. He said that line losses should be brought down to the single digits, and that through this measure, the government will be able to save sufficient funds.
Javaid said that the distribution system should be updated, as a huge amount of electricity is being wasted in the old system. He said that the government should complete the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Plant project on war footing. He also urged the government to allow the duty free import of solar panels to promote alternative energy sources in the country.
