June 25, 2024
2 mins read

‘Pak suffers PKR 600 bn loss annually due to power theft’

Leghari mentioned that the centre had requested Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh to stop power theft…reports Asian Lite News

Pakistan Federal Energy Minister Awais Leghari said that the country was suffering a loss worth a whopping Pakistani Rupees 600 billion a year due to electricity theft, reported Geo News.

The energy minister said that Pakistan had 6000 megawatts of extra electricity on Saturday but it was not supplied as it could have caused damage of over Rs 2 billion to the national exchequer.

“Pakistan had 6,000 megawatts of extra electricity on Saturday but it was advertently not supplied because it would have inflicted damage of another Rs2.5 billion to the national exchequer,” the energy minister said during an interview on Geo News programme.

He further said that illegal transformers were set up; therefore, the government could not provide electricity to them as those feeders were not even on meters.

“If we provide electricity to them, then the consumers having meters will bear the burden. The federation has no charity money to give. It is our responsibility to stop electricity theft,” he said.

Leghari mentioned that the centre had requested Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Sindh to stop power theft.

Meanwhile, he said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz started helping the federal government without even asking, as reported by Geo News.

“Electricity theft causes a loss of Rs600 billion annually. We will stop it at any cost and not bow to political pressure or threats,” he said.

The minister said there was an annual loss of Rs 137 billion in Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and tribal areas.

“Apart from Karachi, electricity worth Rs 51 billion is being stolen annually in Sindh. Electricity worth Rs 133 billion is being stolen in Punjab and Rs 100 billion power is being stolen in Balochistan,” he said.

“Electricity worth Rs 65 billion has been stolen in Peshawar, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan, Nowshera and Charsadda,” he added.

Leghari said that it was not possible to discriminate against any province involved in electricity theft, Geo News reported.

Moreover, attempts were being made to give it a political colour but the government would take measures to stop electricity theft without political rhetoric, he emphasised.

“There was pressure on all the chief ministers on the issue of loadshedding, but no one reacted like the KP chief minister. If he wants 24-hour electricity for the people of his province, then our formula will provide better results,” he said. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Srinagar recognised as ‘World Craft City’

Previous Story

Chinese probe finds natural few-layer graphene in lunar soil samples

Next Story

Defence Minister admits minorities being targeted in Pakistan

Latest from -Top News

Kashmir Crisis Deepens

Government of Pakistan Administered Kashmir has instructed residents living along the de-facto border, the Line of Control (LoC) with India to stockpile food and other essential items for at least two months…reports

Commonwealth soldiers buried in France 

Remains from six Commonwealth soldiers who fought in World War 1, none of them identifiable by name, have been laid to rest in France   All services were organised by the MOD’s
Go toTop

Don't Miss

D-day for Imran

The Opposition claims that they have 199 members so far

Smog chokes Karachi as air quality turns ‘very unhealthy’ 

At around 9:20 am, the concentration of harmful PM2.5 pollutants