LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) dismissed 117 officers and officials in 2024 after proving their involvement in power theft, overbilling, negligence, and other irregularities.

“The year 2024 was challenging due to our campaign against power theft, overbilling and related issues. To combat these practices, we took strict action, even against our staff,” Lesco Chief Executive Officer Shahid Haidar told Dawn on Tuesday.

Among those dismissed were over 20 sub-divisional officers and executive engineers. Also, five or six officers, including a superintending engineer, were demoted, and nearly 20 others suspended from service.

Since launching its anti-theft campaign in September 2023, Lesco claims to have identified 176,803 cases of electricity theft across Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, and Okara districts. Police registered 164,469 FIRs and arrested 45,667 suspects based on official complaints.

The campaign exposed theft among 5,461 commercial, 1,712 agricultural, 359 industrial and 169,271 domestic connections. All involved connections were disconnected and billed for a total of 182.014 million detection units, amounting to over Rs6.912 billion.

Also, on Tuesday, Lesco recovered Rs6.005 million from 97 chronic defaulters, including Rs3.089 million from 11 defaulters in the Northern Circle and Rs1.029 million from 17 defaulters in the Eastern Circle. Other recoveries were made across Central, Southern, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, Okara and Kasur circles.

Lesco also provided 18,000 single-phase meters to process applications submitted in October 2024, further improving service delivery.

LDA: The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) launched a major anti-encroachment drive on Tuesday in Sabzazar D Block, reclaiming land worth millions of rupees from a land mafia operating a truck stand.

Separately, the LDA’s engineering wing has been directed to complete the remodeling of Johar Town G1 Market by Jan 31.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2025