LESCO sacks 101 employees over power theft

LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has taken strict action against its employees involved in power theft, ARY News reported.

According to reports, as many as 101 staff have been fired in the previous six months for their participation in power theft.

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According to an LESCO representative, ten workers have been arrested thus far, and many colleagues have been forced to resign after serious allegations were established against them.

Furthermore, some staff have been demoted and had their yearly raises withheld.

On April 7, the Punjab Energy Department accused electricity distribution providers of overcharging government institutions, describing it as a burden on the provincial budget.

According to the Punjab Energy Department, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) overcharge government departments.

It further said that there are approximately 102,000 electric connections at government agencies around the province.”In the financial year 2022-23, the provincial departments consumed electricity worth over Rs 1.91 billion but had to pay Rs 76 billion,” according to the statement.

It is worth noting that the federal government ‘okayed’ the delegation of Federal Investigation Officers (FIA) officers to energy distribution firms (DISCOs) to combat power theft.

According to the sources, the decision was made to eliminate power theft and increase recovery in response to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) request.

In this respect, a letter has been sent to the Power Division requesting the appointment of FIA officials to five DISCOs: Islamabad Electric Supply Company, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Tribal Areas, and Quetta Electric Supply Company.