QUETTA, Oct 17: Water and Power Minister Laiquat Ali Jatoi has asked the executive engineers of the Quetta Electricity Supply Company to stop line losses and ensure proper meter reading, correct billing and timely distribution of bills within a month.

Speaking to Qesco officials, the minister said strict action would be taken against those whose performance did not improve.

"Consumers are not receiving bills according to their meter readings," Mr Jatoi said and added that line losses were causing huge revenue shortfall to the Water and Power Development Authority.

He said Wapda would not tolerate such practices any more and officials whose performance was found poor could be fired.

He said he would visit the provincial capital a month later to review the affairs. He said the authority was introducing a system of reward and punishment for the employees on the basis of their performance.