LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) suspended from service four of its officials on Wednesday.

The dismissed employees include line superintendent Shoaib and meter readers Sajjad Ashiq, Muzaffar and Jamil.

A Lesco spokesperson said the company was implementing special measures to hold accountable those officers and employees involved in electricity theft or displaying negligence in their duties.

Line Superintendent Shoaib, who served in the Batapur sub-division, was issued a show-cause notice due to negligence in his duties. However, he failed to provide a satisfactory response, resulting in his termination from service.

Meter readers Ashiq from the Kanganpur sub-division, Muzaffar Ali from the Zarrar Shaheed sub-division, and Jamil from the Sarfraz Nagar sub-division were found guilty of aiding electricity theft suspects.

They were given the opportunity to provide a satisfactory explanation for their actions, but none of them were able to do so. Consequently, all four employees were dismissed from their positions.

NTDC: The National Transmission and Despatch Company Limited announced the successful completion of the reconductoring work on the 500kV transmission line K2/K3-NKI circuit (17.98km) and K2/K3-Jamshoro circuit-1 (6.37km) before the scheduled deadline.

The transmission line has now been energised.

The reconductoring project was finished in just 50 days, significantly shorter than the contractual completion period of 75 days. Key activities during the project included replacing old and deteriorated conductors, installing new conductors over a distance of 24.35km, replacing old and deteriorated hardware and insulators on 71 towers, replacing shield wire over a distance of 24.51km, and installing optical ground wire over a distance of 24.94km.

Additionally, the project involved the foundation and erection of six towers and the dismantling of four existing towers.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2023