ISLAMABAD: Energy minister Awais Leghari has said not only poor people but also larger industries and furnace oil plants are involved in power pilferage. Addressing a press conference here Thursday he said losses caused by power distribution companies have been placed before people. DISCOS placed burden of loss of Rs 591 billion in 2023-24. Had there been no such losses then it would have been easy to pay off the debt of the country. He held the entire government and cabinet expressed their grave concerns over this matter. Government decided to correct these DISCOs under determination and made appointments in DISCOs according to its thinking and strategy. Power division eliminated culture of favoritism in DISCOs. Owais Leghari said we succeeded in curtailing losses of DISCOs under good governance. ONLINE
I thank to leadership of Prime Minister and DISCOs Board. We have succeeded in lessening DISCOs losses by Rs 191 billion till June 30, 2025.
He said it was decided that to lessen loss to the tune of Rs 100 billion gradually. This year we had to suffer losses of Rs 399 billion as compared to Rs 591 billion last year.
He indicated there are two types of losses in DISCOs.
He pointed out DISCOs had not recovered Rs 315 billion against electricity bills last year. We have taken recovery of bills to 96 percent for the first time in history of Pakistan.
Under the head of power pilferage, electricity was stolen of Rs 276 billion last year. Some DISCOS did well and succeeded in containing power theft.
He remarked not only poor man steals electricity but large industries and furnace oil plants are involved in power pilferage.
LESCO did well than others and it succeeded in curtailing losses. LESCO conducted major operation against power theft. How much a big industry steals the electricity, the theft at such level is not committed in a village.
