DERA ISMAIL KHAN: The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), in collaboration with the district administration, has recovered Rs1.35 million in outstanding dues and intensified action against power theft during a two-day crackdown in different localities of the district.

The operation involved the disconnection of transformers and power lines, removal of illegal electricity connections and requests for registration of cases against suspected offenders.

The joint task force was led by Superintending Engineer Pesco Dera Circle Hizbullah Khan Mehsud and included Rural Division Executive Engineer Muaz Ahmed and City Division Executive Engineer Sanaullah Khan.

A 100-kVA transformer at Saleem stone-crushing plant was removed over outstanding dues of Rs2 million, while a span of the high-tension line supplying Kalar stone-crushing plant was disconnected over non-payment of bills.

The task force also removed illegal direct electricity connections at a commercial premises in Mohallah Alam Sher, which was connected to the City-I feeder.

Assistant Commissioner Dr Hamid Siddiq sealed the premises and forwarded a report to the police for registration of a case.

In the rural division, operations were conducted in Mandhra subdivision with the assistance of the district administration and police.

A 100-kVA transformer was removed from the main street of Shahjahan Shaheed Town, which falls within the jurisdiction of the 11-kV Saddar feeder, where 25 to 30 illegal direct connections were reportedly in use.

Only four single-phase meters had been installed in the area, three of which had accumulated outstanding dues of around Rs300,000.

Similarly, a 50-kVA transformer was removed from Royal City in Darya Band, within the 11-kV Indus feeder area, where 25 to 30 illegal connections were found against only one regular connection.

In Badni, a 25-kVA transformer was removed over outstanding dues of Rs3.056 million in the area served by the 11-kV CRBC feeder.

In Paniala subdivision, a 50-kVA transformer and a meter were removed from Global Gas Plant over unpaid bills amounting to Rs733,094.

A separate large-scale operation within the jurisdiction of the Yarik complaint office led to the removal of several illegal direct connections and the seizure of wires allegedly used for power theft.

The Pesco team also submitted five requests to Shorkot police station for registration of cases against suspected offenders in Mandhra subdivision.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2026