PM Shehbaz reiterates govt's resolve to tackle power issues on priority

• Corrupt elements in Discos will be dealt with iron hand: premier.
• Orders coordination with provinces on energy-related issues.
• Discos directed to make kutchehri system more result-oriented.  

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday reiterated the government's resolve to tackle power issues, including prevention of electricity theft, reducing line losses, and improvement of the power distribution companies (Discos) across the country.

Presiding over a meeting held here to review matters of the Power Division, the premier directed the Power Minister and Secretary Power Division to coordinate with the provinces with respect to halting electricity theft, performance of Discos and other matters of the sector.

Recently, PM Shehbaz said, the government had appointed new board chairmen and members in five power distribution companies through a transparent process, hoping that these appointments would further improve the performance of Discos.

“A whole-of-the-government approach should be adopted to resist power theft across the country,” the premier said.

He directed the provincial governments to maintain the number of police force and Tehsildars as per the Discos’ needs.

He also ordered the authorities concerned to deal with the corrupt elements in the power distribution companies with in iron hand and take strict action against them.

He directed Discos to make the kutchehri system more effective and result-oriented with respect to the public complaints.

PM Shehbaz said the meeting of the steering committee that was formed in connection with the shifting of agriculture tube wells to solar energy in Balochistan, should be called immediately.

The meeting was apprised that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the transfer of agricultural tube wells in Balochistan to solar energy had been notified to the Steering Committee.

It was further informed that a package was being prepared regarding acknowledgement of officers who had shown good performance.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Power Awais Khan Leghari and other officers of the relevant ministries and divisions.