LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) overbilled the consumers in Lahore and its adjoining districts for 830 million units last year, says Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

“We have evidence that as many as 830 million units were overbilled by the Lahore Electric Supply Company in 2023, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched an action, arresting two (Lesco) executive engineers so far,” the interior minister told a press conference at the FIA provincial headquarters here on Monday.

Naqvi says Lesco overbilled even the consumers using just 300 units.

“Overbilling was resorted to in the government offices, the industry and even to the common man who consumed only 300 units. For example, a consumer who was to pay Rs20,000 bill against the units he used, had to pay Rs40,000 bill against the overcharged units, which is unfortunate and those responsible for it will face law,” he said and added the FIA’s campaign against overbilling would continue. “We fully support the FIA’s crackdown against overbilling,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lesco officers observed a strike on Monday against the FIA’s action, terming it harassment and demanded that the agency should share the data regarding the overbilled units with proof.

Lahore, Kasur, Okara, Sheikhupura and Nankana districts fall in the Lesco jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, about the facilities planned for the passengers at airports, Mr Naqvi said steps were being taken to increase counters at the Lahore airport to make immigration process hassle-free.

He added that electronic gates would also be introduced at airports so that the passport scanning process could be carried out without immigration officers.

To a question, he said strict laws were needed to regulate social media. Citing the example of Gulf states, he said that strict legislation was the need of the hour to check “fake information”.

Earlier, Sub Inspector Faiza Shahzad inaugurated the Shaheed Shahzad Younas Investigation Block at the FIA building.

On the occasion, the interior minister paid tributes to the martyred inspector.

He also visited different sections of the newly-inaugurated investigation block.

FIA Director General Ahmad Ishaque Jehangir, Lahore Director Sarfraz Virk and other officers were also present.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2024