Govt to not provide low cost electricity till end of power theft

Islamabad: The caretaker energy minister Muhammad Ali said people will not be able to get low cost electricity until the end of electricity theft ends and bill payments by people.

While addressing a press conference with caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, Energy Minister Muhammad Ali stated: “There is a loss of 79 billion units of electricity in Islamabad, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan discos. Out of these five discos, there is a billing of 3044 billion and a loss of 100 billion”.

Federal Minister Muhammad Ali added that discos in Peshawar, Hyderabad, Quetta, Sukkur, Tribal Areas and Azad Kashmir have a loss of 489 billion with 60% loss.

Muhammad Ali further stated that electricity theft is at different levels in every region. Electricity worth Rs589 billion is being stolen in the country or bills are not being paid. We have to stop electricity theft in the country.

The federal minister also added: “Due to electricity theft or non-payment of bills, other consumers are burdened, until electricity theft ends and people do not pay bills, they will not get low rate electricity”.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has directed a crackdown to prevent electricity theft, and make recovery from those who do not pay electricity bills, he stated.