ISLAMABAD: In a bid to address the escalating circular debt in the power sector, which is a primary driver of rising electricity tariffs, the caretaker government has unveiled a series of measures aimed at combating power theft nationwide.
Amid nationwide protests against inflated electricity bills and in light of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) stringent conditions for a short-term $3 billion bailout package, the authorities have thus far failed to provide immediate relief measures.
Caretaker Energy Minister Mohammad Ali, in a joint press conference with interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi in Islamabad, presented the actions being taken to combat power theft and boost electricity bill recovery.
“We are actively developing an electricity theft act, which will include the establishment of an enforcement infrastructure and the creation of special courts to prosecute and punish those engaged in theft,” stated the energy minister.
He further disclosed that they will introduce electricity act within the next two to three weeks through a presidential ordinance, with the primary goal of promptly reducing or stopping power theft amounting to Rs589 billion.
Crackdown on Electricity Theft and Government Actions
Following the directives of caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the energy minister emphasized the launch of a rigorous crackdown against electricity theft. He underscored that ordinary power consumers should not bear the burden of those who steal electricity, and reducing electricity prices is contingent on eradicating this problem.
In response to the prime minister’s orders, Ali has compiled a list of power distribution company officers involved in power theft. He then forwarded this list to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for their removal.
Authorities are actively pursuing action against power theft culprits, providing daily progress reports as instructed. Caretaker PM Kakar expressed a strong stance against defaulters and power thieves, urging swift and unwavering action.
The prime minister received a detailed briefing on energy sector issues. This included information on total installed capacity, actual generation, and overall energy supply across different seasons.
