ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar directed relevant authorities to accelerate their efforts to curb electricity theft in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sindh and Quetta.

Prime Minister, chairing review meeting on anti-power theft campaign, also instructed to speed up solarisation of agriculture tube-wells. He sought comprehensive report on resistance faced during anti-power theft drive in Balochistan and other allied issues.

Prime Minister told participants of meeting that it was the caretaker government's responsibility to leave behind an established system for next democratic government concerning steps like anti-power theft campaign.

Prime Minister was briefed on outcomes of campaign since its launch. He was told that process was going on successfully in collaboration with provincial governments.

It was informed that under campaign, total of 19,415 power thieves were arrested and 39,836 First Information Reports were registered against power theft since September. Around 189 government officials had also been suspended over their involvement in electricity theft.

Meeting was told that campaign against electricity theft remained most successful in Mardan where power theft ratio declined from 43 percent to 13 percent. Participants were told that Rs 14 billion had been recovered under campaign till September 30.

Prime Minister Kakar lauded performance of Energy Ministry, power distribution companies and relevant federal and provincial authorities for successes achieved in campaign. Meeting was apprised of outcomes of countrywide analysis to find out causes behind power theft.

Caretaker federal ministers for interior, energy and information and broadcasting, provincial chief secretaries and relevant federal secretaries attended meeting.

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 26 2023

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