Power privilege: thousands of officials enjoy free electricity worth billions

ISLAMABAD: It has come to the light that around 32,000 serving government officers across Pakistan are being provided with free electricity worth Rs12 billion annually.

The HUM Investigation Team (HIT) has accessed official figures, confirming that the government is allocating a monthly sum of Rs2 billion under the head of free electricity for serving and retired government employees.

Additionally, it has also been revealed that a monthly theft of Rs390 million worth of electricity is occurring across the country.

According to official data, 220,000 serving and retired government employees receive free electricity worth Rs24 billion annually.

Further insights from government statistics reveal that around 181,000 employees of distribution companies (DISCOs) annually consume free electricity worth Rs15 billion.

In addition, the President’s Secretariat’s 311 staff members are annually given Rs80 million of funds under the head of electricity bills.

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Similarly, the Prime Minister’s House has 445 employees, who are allotted Rs140 million in utility funds under the head of electricity bills.

A revelation has emerged that 32,00 judges and officials of the lower and higher courts receive a total of Rs350 million annually under the head of electricity bills.

Government statistics have disclosed that all these employees are provided with a monthly unit allowance of Rs350 million for electricity usage.

Further details from government data show that officers in scales 22 and 21 receive 1,300 units, officers in scale 19 receive 880 units, and officers in scale 20 receive 1,110 units of free electricity each month.

It has been learned from statistics that employees in grades one to four are given 100 free units of electricity each month.

Elected officials including the president, the prime minister, the senate chairman, the NAB chairman, the Auditor General for Pakistan and those holding constitutions slots are entitled to utilise unlimited electricity units.

Government sources also explain that a sum of Rs200 million is allocated through the relevant departments and divisions annually to cover bills and utility expenses of all such dignitaries, who hold constitutional positions.

It has been noted that judges of the Supreme Court receive 2,000 units each month, while those of the high court are entitled to 1,300 units of free electricity.

Further information states that WAPDA employees, including those from DISCOs, are allowed to use 391 million units of free electricity annually.

According to government figures, the 18 DISCO companies under the Ministry of Energy have no heads who, for the past five years, have not been able to formulate any policy or practical measure to curb the annual Rs47 billion worth of electricity theft in the country.

According to the documents, more than 800 employees of electricity companies were apprehended last year for electricity theft amounting to billions of rupees. According to documents, over 200 employees have been dismissed from service.