PM Shehbaz directs the provincial govts to fully support the anti-electricity theft campaign

ISLAMABAD, June 11 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed to establish an effective and dynamic customer service system in the offices of distribution companies for timely registration of complaints related to non-supply of electricity.

PM Shehbaz Sharif issued these directives while presiding over a review meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, regarding electricity load shedding, prevention of electricity theft and reforms in the energy sector.

The Prime Minister further directed the authorities concerned to observe minimum load shedding in view of rising scorching heat.

He said the procurement of new transformers should be made as per the specifications of international standard. He said the prevailing modern system should be analyzed for reforms in the energy sector.

PM Shehbaz Sharif directed the provincial governments to fully support the anti-electricity theft campaign and to award strict punishments to the electricity thieves. He also directed to address the issue of over-billing in the country.

The Prime Minister was briefed regarding the progress made so far in the revamping the National Transmission and Dispatch Company.

The meeting was informed that more than thirty thousand cases have been registered and 90 employees have been arrested in connection with over billing from April 1st to May 30.

In connection with reforms in the energy sector, a project for metering over one hundred and twenty four thousand transformers has also been included in the next year’s development budget.

Similarly, one-third consumers of IESCO are also being transferred on smart meters with the support of the Asian Development Bank, which will later be expanded to rest of the country.

A briefing was also given in the meeting regarding demand and supply of electricity and load shedding in the country. It was informed that the areas where dues recovery is better have been declared load shedding free, while only partial load-shedding is being done in areas which are in default list.

The Prime Minister was also informed about the progress achieved so far in the anti-electricity theft campaign in the country.