The Pakistan government’s decision to entrust the supervision of loss-making Distribution Companies (Discos) to the Pakistan Army signifies a robust strategy to combat electricity theft and enhance bill recovery. Under the leadership of a serving brigadier, a team comprising officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) will manage Performance Monitoring Units (PMUs) across all struggling Discos.
This initiative is a proactive response to address the substantial financial losses attributed to rampant electricity theft and unpaid bills. By deploying a specialized team, including representatives from law enforcement and intelligence agencies, the government aims to root out corruption and take decisive action against individuals engaged in electricity theft. The emphasis on a pilot project in the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) underscores a strategic approach to test and refine the effectiveness of the measures.
The broader crackdown on electricity theft, initially announced by the caretaker energy minister in September, reflects the severity of the issue. Discos in key regions like Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Quetta, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, facing notable losses, necessitate such stringent measures to ensure accountability and sustainable improvement in the electricity distribution sector.
