Lesco gets special unit to address power theft and revenue recovery

• Lesco CEO says company made billions by reducing line losses. 
• Special unit tasked to expediting recovery of outstanding dues. 
• We are working on lists of corrupt and incompetent officers: Haider.

LAHORE: A special unit has been established to assist the Lahore Electricity Supply Company (Lesco) in combating power theft and boosting recovery. 

The development was confirmed by the distribution company's Chief Executive Officer Shahid Haider in a conversation with Geo News. 

He said that Lesco made gains in billions of rupees by reducing line losses and improving the recovery process. He said that the federal government has formed the dedicated "Disco Support Unit", which will operate for two years. 

High-ranking officials from the civil armed forces (Rangers), Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence will assist the unit's operations, Haider added. 

Moreover, officials from Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Punjab police will also be part of the unit, with a sector commander of the Rangers acting as co-director.

The primary mandate of Disco Support Unit includes expediting the recovery of outstanding dues, devising anti-theft strategies, reducing non-technical losses, implementing technical solutions, and addressing administrative inefficiencies through collaboration with law enforcement and civil authorities. 

The unit will also recommend the removal of underperforming officers based on intelligence-gathered evidence.

Haider, who will serve as the special unit's director, said that the electricity system was outdated, but they were working to modernise it. 

"We are working on lists of corrupt and incompetent officers, and they will be dismissed," he said.

The Lesco chief further revealed that 83,000 new connection meters will be installed within a month or two, adding that they were taking the company towards autonomy.