Massive electricity theft uncovered: Rs670 billion lost in 15 months

ISLAMABAD: In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that ordinary consumers and government employees in Pakistan have been involved in electricity theft, resulting in a staggering loss of Rs670 billion over the past 15 months. The findings, based on official data, indicate a deeply concerning trend in the country’s energy sector.

Hum Investigation Team, after rigorous analysis, discovered that a total of 556,000 ordinary consumers and 14,000 government employees are among those implicated in this widespread electricity theft. Disturbingly, the list of culprits includes over 4,700 employees of distribution companies, highlighting the extent of the problem.

Further investigation revealed details about 1,100 major electricity thieves who had been actively engaged in this illegal activity. Shockingly, over 3,000 cases of electricity theft have been taken to court, underscoring the severity of the issue. Additionally, a substantial 7,856 First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against individuals involved in electricity theft.

Recent statistics indicate that 152 electricity thieves were apprehended just this week, further emphasising the urgency of addressing this crisis. Notably, even 301 officers of distribution companies have been implicated in these unlawful activities.

Moreover, the report reveals that a considerable debt of Rs800 billion is owed by approximately 2 million households, agricultural consumers, and industrial consumers to distribution companies. This financial burden exacerbates the challenges faced by the energy sector.

In a disturbing twist, it has been disclosed that distribution company employees themselves were responsible for electricity theft amounting to a shocking Rs7 billion last year. To combat this corruption, 570 government employees have been dismissed due to their involvement in electricity theft.

Among the distribution companies, Hyderabad Supply Company stands out, with 622 of its employees found participating in electricity theft, according to the statistics. Similarly, 224 employees of Multan Electric Supply Company were caught red-handed in electricity theft activities. Furthermore, 75 officers of the Peshawar Electric Supply Company were implicated in this scandal.

The investigation did not spare the tribal areas or Sukkur Electric Supply Company either, as 231 employees were found involved in electricity theft. Lahore Electric Supply Company had 298 employees involved in electricity theft, while Faisalabad Supply Company reported 251 cases of electricity theft by its employees.

The gravity of the situation has prompted legal action, with proceedings initiated against 51 officers within Hyderabad Electric Company for their involvement in electricity theft.

This revelation of massive electricity theft underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms and stricter enforcement to curb this detrimental trend. The financial implications and the impact on the energy sector cannot be underestimated, and immediate action is imperative to rectify the situation and safeguard the nation’s resources.