LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) recovered a total of Rs27 million from 1,276 chronic defaulters in its various circles of operation on the first day of its recovery campaign in collaboration with tehsildars on Wednesday.

According to Lesco spokesman, company’s chief engineer O&M (T&G) Zafar Iqbal with the support of city tehsildar Mujahid Zia and Shalimar tehsildar Noreez Humayun recovered outstanding dues of Rs4.31m from 145 defaulters in northern circle and Rs3.51m from 249 defaulters in eastern circle.

Similarly, Lesco manager (material disposal) Anwar Wattoo along with Model Town tehsildar Rana Arsal and Cantt tehsildar Sajjad Qureshi recovered Rs840,000 from 106 defaulters in central circle and Rs 2.72m from 65 defaulters in southern circle, while manager (technical) Muhammad Farooq with the assistance of Nankana tehsildar Muhammad Iqbal Rasheed and Sheikhupura tehsildar Muhammad Aslam Gujjar recovered Rs1.56m from 31 defaulters in Nankana circle and Rs5.12m from 186 defaulters in Sheikhupura circle.

He added that Lesco manager E&S (PMU) Engineer Abbas Ali in collaboration with the Kasur naib tehsildar and Okara naib tehsildar Mirza Zahid Baig recovered outstanding dues of Rs2.16m from 165 defaulters in Okara circle and Rs6.59m from 329 defaulters in Kasur circle.

Lesco CEO Engineer Shahid Haider said the company was facing loss due to chronic defaulters and vowed to continue action against them.

It merits mentioning that the Lahore commissioner has assigned additional charge of tehsildar recovery (from Lesco defaulters) to relevant tehsidars. The Lesco CEO has also designated four senior officers to assist them in the dues recovery from defaulters. Top 100 defaulters in each circle owed total outstanding dues of Rs4.545 billion to Lesco, he added.

Commissioner: Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa conducted surprise visits to several schools on Wahdat Road and Iqbal Town on Wednesday to check the quality of education.

He visited the Government Comprehensive Girls Higher Secondary, Government Pilot Higher Secondary Boys School, and Middle Girls School on Wahdat Road.

Mr inquired about the subjects the students were studying, taking a keen interest in their educational progress. He encouraged the young learners about the importance of education in their lives.

Mr Randhawa said that this year, a record enrollment of 646,000 students had been achieved in the 1,120 government schools across Lahore.

He also reviewed the teaching methods employed by educators and stressed the importance of keeping IT labs in schools operational at all times.

He expressed the need for children of all ages to receive basic introductory computer training and suggested that students be given the opportunity to teach their classmates as a way to boost their confidence.

He also examined the cleanliness and functionality of IT and science labs.

He called for the names and pictures of the best-performing students to be prominently displayed outside their schools.

During his school visits, Commissioner Randhawa said there should a strong partnership between teachers, students, and parents.

He also asked for conducting regular health camps in primary schools and the updating of nutritional charts for children.

Earlier in the day, the commissioner attended an APWA College ceremony, where he encouraged players from Lahore division who are participating in provincial-level competitions.

A total of 196 male and female players from Lahore division are partaking in these competitions, marking the first time inter-collegiate games have been organized at the provincial level by the Higher Education Department of Punjab.

The event was also attended by DPI of Colleges Dr Syed Ansar, Director of Colleges Muhammad Zahid and Principal Dr Naima Khurshid.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2023