New Delhi: A three-year-old toddler has been arrested on charges of electricity theft in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province and an FIR has been lodged against the minor, ARY News reported.
A complaint was filed by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and an FIR was issued against the minor. The boy was produced before the Additional Sessions Judge Court, where his legal representative argued that the judge, having received his affidavit, dismissed the case. WAPDA and PESCO officials expressed uncertainty as to whether the boy was involved in the alleged crime.
The incident follows major revelations last month when power theft within power distribution companies (DISCOs) was reported to have caused a loss of Rs 4,380 billion to the national exchequer. Those losses accounted for a significant portion of the total annual claims of 723 billion rupees, officials said.
The power department took note of companies from Hyderabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Quetta and tribal areas to identify the worst performing discos. On April 7, the Punjab Energy Department expressed concern over electricity distribution companies charging government agencies excessive rates, which it deemed a burden on the state exchequer.
The ministry said Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO), Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company (FESCO), Multan Electricity Supply Company (MEPCO), Gujranwala Electricity Supply Company (GEPCO) and Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) were overcharging government departments. He pointed out that he was going.
The ministry reported that there are more than 102,000 electricity connections across the prefectures, with large discrepancies between actual consumption and billed amounts. In 2022-23, each district consumed more than PKR 1.91 billion in electricity, but the bill was PKR 76 billion.
In response to the issue, the federal government authorized the deployment of Federal Investigative Agents (FIAs) to electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) to curb power theft and enhance revenue collection. As reported by ARY News, the move was in line with a request from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
(With input from agency)
A complaint was filed by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and an FIR was issued against the minor. The boy was produced before the Additional Sessions Judge Court, where his legal representative argued that the judge, having received his affidavit, dismissed the case. WAPDA and PESCO officials expressed uncertainty as to whether the boy was involved in the alleged crime.
The incident follows major revelations last month when power theft within power distribution companies (DISCOs) was reported to have caused a loss of Rs 4,380 billion to the national exchequer. Those losses accounted for a significant portion of the total annual claims of 723 billion rupees, officials said.
The power department took note of companies from Hyderabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Quetta and tribal areas to identify the worst performing discos. On April 7, the Punjab Energy Department expressed concern over electricity distribution companies charging government agencies excessive rates, which it deemed a burden on the state exchequer.
The ministry said Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO), Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company (FESCO), Multan Electricity Supply Company (MEPCO), Gujranwala Electricity Supply Company (GEPCO) and Islamabad Electricity Supply Company (IESCO) were overcharging government departments. He pointed out that he was going.
The ministry reported that there are more than 102,000 electricity connections across the prefectures, with large discrepancies between actual consumption and billed amounts. In 2022-23, each district consumed more than PKR 1.91 billion in electricity, but the bill was PKR 76 billion.
In response to the issue, the federal government authorized the deployment of Federal Investigative Agents (FIAs) to electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) to curb power theft and enhance revenue collection. As reported by ARY News, the move was in line with a request from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
(With input from agency)
