Govt maintains zero tolerance policy towards power pilferage: Awais

By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari on Tuesday reiterated that the Federal Government and the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) had maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards electricity theft and their facilitators.
Presiding over at high level meeting at Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) headquarters, he emphasized the importance of 100% recovery of dues from both government and private consumers.
He assured full support of the Federal Government, the Ministry of Energy, and Law Enforcement Agencies to the IESCO in this regard.
He instructed IESCO CEO Muhammad Naeem Jan to ensure the immediate delivery of the relief of Rs 14 per unit announced by the Punjab government to domestic consumers.
He stressed that any delay in this process would not be tolerated and that the entire relief distribution would be closely monitored to ensure transparency in this regard.
Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari further highlighted that consumers were the most valuable asset of any organization, and the provision of quality and timely services, accurate meter readings, and prompt bill delivery ought to be ensured.
He also mentioned that the complete eradication of electricity theft was possible through adopting modern technology in the power sector.
Regarding the high cost of electricity, he assured that all possible measures were being taken to provide less expensive electricity to consumers and that they will soon receive more good news in this regard.
Earlier, the Minister along with Federal Secretary (Power Division) Dr. Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan and other senior officers arrived at the IESCO headquarters. The minister was received by Chairman Board of Directors IESCO Dr. Tahir Masood and CEO IESCO Muhmmad Naeem Jan.
The Chairman BoD gave a detailed briefing to the minister about the administrative and operational affairs of IESCO.
Dr. Tahir Masood assured the Minister that IESCO will meet the targets set for it. The meeting was attended by other IESCO board members and senior management.