Pakistan’s Power Division announced on Sunday that it had recovered Rs86 billion in fines from a nationwide crackdown on power theft.
The campaign, initiated in September by the caretaker government and military leaders, aimed to curb losses in the power sector. Since its commencement on September 1, the crackdown has arrested over 65,000 individuals involved in power theft.
Separately, the federal government is moving forward with plans to privatize five profitable power distribution companies (Discos).
The coalition government has identified the companies slated for privatization: Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO).
As part of the initial steps towards privatization, a new board is to be established for these power companies. The privatization ministry has already submitted a proposal for a 12-member high-powered board to oversee the privatization of the Discos to the cabinet for approval.