Residents of Bahria Town Lahore were left without electricity after the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) disconnected power to four major housing projects over unpaid bills exceeding Rs682 million. The sudden cutoff has triggered widespread frustration, with residents planning a protest outside Bahria Town’s offices after Friday prayers.
Lesco Confirms Massive Default; Bahria Town Accused of Repeated Delays
Lesco CEO Muhammad Ramzan Butt confirmed that Bahria Town had defaulted on its bulk power supply payments. He said the outstanding dues — spread across four connections — had reached Rs682 million, and power would remain disconnected until the full amount is cleared.
He explained that the original deadline for payment was November 21, which was extended to November 23 at Bahria Town’s request. Officials then continued seeking extensions until November 26, yet no payments were made. The final deadline was November 27, but instead of paying, Bahria Town reportedly approached the court.
“But before any court orders came in, we disconnected the power supply,” the Lesco chief stated.
According to the bill details, Bahria Town Pvt Ltd owes over Rs530 million, Bahria Orchard owes Rs137 million, Bahria Education City owes Rs5.465 million, and another Bahria project under M/S Kingrete Associates owes Rs2.70 million.
Lesco said electricity would be restored immediately once dues are cleared.
Residents Furious as Daily Life Disrupted by Prolonged Outage
Residents strongly criticised both Bahria Town management and Lesco for failing to resolve the crisis. Many reported harsh living conditions due to the ongoing outage.
“We have been without electricity since yesterday evening,” said Fayyaz Ahmad, a Bahria Town resident, during a television interview. He complained that food in refrigerators had spoiled and there was no warm water, adding that the situation felt “like living in a jungle.” He revealed he planned to temporarily shift to his brother’s home.
This is not the first time Bahria Town has faced such issues. In 2024, Lesco cut power over unpaid bills amounting to Rs762 million. Last year, residents of Bahria Town Islamabad also petitioned against overbilling and deductions on solar-generated electricity.
As frustration grows, Bahria Town residents now await a quick resolution — and the return of electricity that has brought their daily lives to a standstill.
