Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed the government’s resolve to stop electricity theft, reduce line losses, and improve the power distribution system across the country.

While presiding over a meeting held in Islamabad to review the power ministry’s matters, the prime minister directed the power minister and the Power Division secretary to coordinate with the provinces with respect to halting electricity theft, performance of DISCOs and other matters of the sector.

He expressed hope that the new board chairmen and members of five power distribution companies (DISCOs) would further improve the performance of DISCOs.

“A whole of the government approach should be adopted to resist power theft across the country,” the prime minister said.

He directed the provincial governments to maintain the number of police force and Tehsildars as per the DISCOs’ needs. The premier also ordered the authorities concerned to deal with the corrupt elements in the power distribution companies with “iron hand and take strict action against them.”

Also, read this

Payments to IPPs being ‘hyped up’, says state finance minister

Govt to give relief to people using less than 200 units for 3 months: PM Shehbaz

Punjab to provide Rs14/unit relief to consumers using up to 500 units of electricity: Nawaz

He directed DISCOs to make the kutchehri system “more effective and result-oriented” concerning public complaints.

PM Shehbaz said the steering committee meeting that was formed in connection with the shifting of agriculture tube wells to solar energy in Balochistan should be called immediately.

Officials informed the participants that the standard operating procedures regarding the transfer of agricultural tube wells in Balochistan to solar energy had been notified to the steering committee. A package was being prepared regarding acknowledgement of officers who had shown good performance, they added.