Govt says burden of power theft will not be shifted to consumers

September 23, 2026 (MLN):  The Committee constituted vide PM Directive on Inefficiencies and Electricity Theft in DISCOs decided to undertake a comprehensive technical audit of all DISCOs to determine the actual scale, causes and geographical concentration of power theft, as well as technical and commercial losses.

The decision was taken at a meeting co-chaired by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division Senator Ahad Cheema and Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, where the Committee reviewed measures to curb electricity theft, reduce distribution losses and improve DISCO performance.

The Committee received detailed briefings from the Power Division, NEPRA, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the Pakistan Digital Authority and other relevant institutions on power theft, distribution losses, recoveries and technology-based interventions, according to a press release issued.

The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication was assigned responsibility for providing technological assistance and facilitating the technical audit through a transparent and credible mechanism, with an Expression of Interest to be issued shortly to engage qualified technical experts.

The Committee decided that the Terms of Reference for the audit would be finalised by next week.

Senator Ahad Cheema stressed that the audit must include a comprehensive diagnostic analysis of the underlying causes of power theft and losses and produce credible and actionable findings.

He maintained that the government remained fully focused on reducing electricity theft and that under no circumstances would the burden of theft or inefficiencies within the distribution system be shifted onto the people, describing overbilling as completely unacceptable.

He added that the audit's findings would enable the government to take targeted, evidence-based measures against theft and losses, and reiterated that every possible step would be taken to prevent any further increase in circular debt.

Federal Minister Leghari said the Power Division was fully aligned with the Committee's objectives and was actively working to control theft and losses, particularly in DISCOs with a high incidence of electricity theft.

The Committee was also briefed on incentive-based solarisation pilot projects in areas served by PESCO and QESCO, where power theft and distribution losses remain particularly high, aimed at reducing pressure on the electricity network and addressing persistent theft and line-loss issues.

Members reviewed ongoing technology-based measures and emphasised the effective use of digital tools and reliable data to detect irregularities, improve monitoring and strengthen accountability across the distribution network.

While acknowledging progress in addressing overbilling, the co-chairs made clear that any attempt by a DISCO to conceal theft, losses or operational inefficiencies through excessive billing would not be tolerated, stressing that consumers must not bear the cost of weaknesses within the distribution system.

The Committee also reviewed DISCO recovery performance and expressed satisfaction over the improvement recorded during the current year, with the co-chairs emphasising that the momentum must be sustained through better governance, stronger monitoring, technology-driven reforms and targeted action in high-loss areas.

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