- Strict action should be taken against the agent involved in overcharging (PM)
- Prime Minister says all resources should be used to achieve Nepra’s goals.
- He expresses concerns over the delay in appointing nightclub CEOs.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said overcharging of power distribution companies was unacceptable and strict action would be taken against agents involved in such practices.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while chairing a review meeting on the performance of electricity distribution companies (nightclubs).
He ordered to complete the installation of smart meters as soon as possible to ensure transparency in the billing system and called for concrete measures to prevent electricity theft.
Besides other issues, matters related to Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) were discussed in the meeting, according to a statement issued by the Prime’s office minister.
Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed concern over the delay in the appointment process of CEOs of distribution companies and requested to ensure the appointment of CEOs through a highly transparent process and requested that it be completed within earlier.
Recruitment of labor in distribution companies should be based on merit, without compromising transparency, he added.
The Prime Minister said all available resources should be used to achieve Nepra’s goals.
Minister for Economic Affairs Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Electricity Division Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima, Minister of State for Finance and of Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, Prime Minister Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal and senior government officials attended the meeting.
The meeting received a detailed briefing on the achievement of targets including recovery rates (up to November FY 2024-25): Lesco: 96.82%, Pesco: 87.98% and Fesco: 97, 57%.
Earlier this month, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) decided to initiate legal action against K-Electric (KE) and other electricity supply companies after finding that they were overcharging millions of consumers.
“Legal action against all distribution companies, including KEL, under the NEPRA Fines Regulations, 2021, for violation of the provisions of the NEPRA Act, CSM and tariff conditions etc.,” reads a press release published by the electricity regulator.
The authority has taken “very seriously” complaints that have been reported across Pakistan regarding excessive, inflated and erroneous bills charged by distribution companies to consumers for two months – July and August.