Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grave concern over the delay in appointment of CEOs of electricity distribution companies and directed the authorities to expedite the process with full transparency. The premier, who chaired a review meeting on the disco’s performance on Saturday, stressed that recruitment should be strictly merit-based, with malpractice not tolerated.
The meeting focused on key issues related to Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO). The Prime Minister stressed the importance of achieving the goals set by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and urged the rapid installation of smart meters to enhance billing transparency.
“Overbilling will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” Prime Minister Shehbaz warned, calling for strict action against officials involved in malpractices and concrete measures to combat electricity theft.
During the session, officials were briefed on the performance of the three discotheques. Recovery rates through November for FY 2024-25 were reported at 96.82% for Lesco, 87.98% for Pesco, and 97.57% for Fesco. However, transmission and distribution losses through November were a concern, with Lesco recording 13.04%, Pesco 33%, and Visco 6.01%.
Regarding the installation of smart meters, Lesco installed 49,470 out of the targeted 223,365 meters, PESCO 51,173 out of 152,559, and VISCO 11,276 out of 192,311. The Prime Minister urged faster progress on this front to reduce shortcomings and improve accountability.
The meeting also highlighted customer service improvements, including access to call centres, online platforms and Nepra’s mobile and web applications. It was noted that free access to the helpline 118 is available for complaints across all mobile networks.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers and senior officials, including Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahed Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Energy Department Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari, and Minister of State for Information Technology Shatha Fatima, indicating the focused approach taken by the government to resolve the challenges it faces. Energy distribution sector.