LAHORE: The management of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) will punish its officers and officials found involved in over-billing the consumers while monetary incentive will be given to employees who will detect power pilferage and recover dues from defaulters.

An agreement to adopt this approach was reached in a bilateral meeting between the Lesco management and representatives of the CBA, All-Pakistan Wapda Hydro Electric Workers Union at the company headquarters on Wednesday.

Chief Executive Officer Rao Zameeruddin, General Manager Abdur Rehman and Director General (HR&A) Mian Saghir Ahmed represented Lesco, while the union team comprised its General Secretary Khurshid Ahmed, Maqsood Ahmed, Haji Younus, Muzaffar Mateen, Sheikh Shoaib and others at the meeting.

It was decided that within a month eligible employees, including meter supervisor and MRSS, both at company and circle level, would be granted promotion and their pay scales upgraded in accordance with the settlement reached with the union.

The management assured the union representatives that every effort would be made to ensure safe working conditions for the line staff by providing them standard safety equipment and observing safety regulations strictly.

The management had been making efforts to convince the government to lift the ban on recruitments that had been in force for many years. Measures were also being taken to improve services to consumers, the meeting was informed.

Earlier, union representatives informed the meeting that seven line staff members had been electrocuted in two months.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2014