LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has initiated disciplinary action against 76 employees following numerous complaints related to power theft, meter tampering, and other unlawful activities. Out of these 76 employees, 12 have been removed from service, and major penalties, including demotions and stoppage of increments, have been imposed on others, as reported by Dawn.

The company’s management took strict measures against electricity pilferage since the beginning of operations in the first week of September this year. Alongside the removal of 12 employees, 10 officers (SDOs, EXENs, etc.) were also dismissed earlier for corruption.

The report reveals that major penalties, including removal from service, were imposed on 12 officials, namely Muhammad Kashif, Muhammad Naeem, Zahid Barkat, Adnan Hameed, Sarfraz Ahmad Joyia, Muhammad Jamil, Muzaffar Ali and Sajjad Ashiq (all meter readers), Tanveer Hussain (line superintendent), Ashfaq Ahmad (meter inspector), Muhammad Shoaib (line superintendent), and Yousaf Zahid (assistant lineman).

Pervaiz Akhtar (meter reader) was compulsory retired, and six officials were demoted to junior positions. The inquiry against 58 officials is still under process.

Earlier, Lesco had removed 10 officers from service for serious corruption, including nine sub-divisional officers (SDOs) and one executive engineer (EXEN), with one of the SDOs involved in registering fake FIRs against consumers. The company had also imposed major penalties on 17 other officers based on the gravity of their offenses.

Meanwhile, Lesco teams detected 175 cases of power theft in Lahore and adjoining districts on Friday. The cases included pilferage at a major hotel in Royal Park, leading to a fine of Rs4 million imposed on the owners, along with a registered case.

Lesco’s administration reported that over 12,000 people have been arrested for power pilferage since September. Additionally, 66 Lesco feeders faced tripping due to rain on Friday, but all were operational again by nightfall.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2023