LAHORE: After a massive reshuffle in the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) as part of a government crackdown on electricity theft, other power distribution firms have also transferred hundreds of officials, the power division’s secretary said on Saturday.

Including Lesco, the 10 power distribution companies (Discos) have reshuffled their entire 1,914 officers posted at various tiers of the field formations — circles, divisions and sub-divisions headed by superintending engineers (SEs or managers), executive engineers (XENs or deputy managers) and sub-divisional officers (SDOs or assistant managers).

These officers include 248 officers who have been posted at their respective Disco headquarters as officers on special duty (OSD).

“Collusion networks are the basis of power theft. Have closed 248 officers with jet-black integrity to the headquarters. Also reshuffled remaining 1,900 plus SEs, XENs and SDOs across the country without a single ‘sifarish’,” Power Division Secretary Rashid Langrial posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

10 electricity distribution firms transfer over 1,900 officers posted at various tiers

In Sindh, the pace of anti-power pilferage seems slow as the police were mostly deployed to maintain law and order on the eve of Imam Hussain’s Chehlum-related gatherings and other events, officials said.

However, Mr Langrial told Dawn that operations in Sindh would also be launched vigorously like other provinces from Monday (tomorrow).

According to a document available with Dawn, the 351 officers reshuffled in Lesco included 24 SEs, 89 XENs and 238 SDOs of BPS-19, 18 and 17 respectively. These included 17 who were made OSDs.

Faisalabad’s Fesco has also made a massive reshuffle in its entire field formations, transferring 195 officers, including 13 SEs, 52 XENs and 130 SDOs. These included 14 officers whose services were placed at the disposal of the management of Fesco’s headquarters.

Islamabad’s Iesco has transferred 219 officers, including 10 SEs, 61 XENs and 148 SDOs. Of them, 21 have been asked to report to headquarters.

As for Peshawar’s Pesco, 299 officers have been transferred, including eight SEs, 93 XENs and 198 SDOs, with 68 becoming OSDs and posted to the headquarters.

The management of the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) has also transferred 138 officers, including eight SEs, 42 XENs and 88 SDOs. OF all, 13 were grounded at the headquarters.

Multan’s Mepco has transferred 314 officers, including 13 SEs, 85 XENs and 216 SDOs. Of all, 34 have been sent to headquarters.

Quetta’s power supply company Qesco has transferred 165 officers, including seven SEs, 50 XENs and 108 SDOs, including 29 sent to headquarters.

In Sindh, Sukkur’s Sepco has transferred 86 officers, including six SEs, 29 XENs and 51 SDOs. Of them, 25 have been sent to the headquarters. Hyderabad’s Hesco has transferred 112 officers, including two SEs, 20 XENs and 90 SDOs, of whom 19 have been sent to headquarters on special duty.

The Tribal Area Electric Supply Company (Tesco) has also transferred 35 officers, including 12 XENs and 23 SDOs, with eight asked to report to the headquarters.

“Crackdown started. It is the beginning. It will become much more relentless and unforgiving,” Mr Langrial posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.

More than 2,000 cases of electricity theft with four million units had been detected, he said, adding that 21 were arrested, Rs164m worth of fines imposed and Rs11m recovered.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2023