State Minister Abid Sher Ali said a ruthless operation against power theft is being launched in South Punjab from tomorrow. It will begin from Dera Ghazi Khan on Thursday and action against influential Sardars, Tummandars or any other influential would be taken by setting aside party affiliations. He appealed all the parliamentarians and elected representatives give a big hand in this campaign of national interest because power worth Rs 250-300 billion is theft yearly from the country. He said removal transformers have been ordered from high line losses areas.
Addressing a press conference here at Mepco Headquarters on Wednesday, the State Minister said that he would personally visit Mulatn no-go areas on coming Saturday to unearth power theft being hatched by attaching hooks from main transmission lines. The State Minister also suspended Mepco officals on showing poor performance and indulging into corruption.
He said resisting the drive against power theft is non-bailable offence and stern action would be taken at department level on attacking or resisting the campaign. He said member parliament Sardar Ashiq Gopang is found involved in high level of power theft in Kot Samaba disterict Rahimyar Khan and he showed pictures of power theft from his house and other influential.
He said 70-080% power is theft in SEPCO while the line losses in FESCO have reached 99%. Criticising PTI chief Imran Khan he advised him avoid politicising national issues and doing politics. He said 1,500-2,000 megawatts power would be included in the system in the current year, while talks with sugar mills are underway to produce energy from mill units. To a query he said Pakistan would prefer cheap energy from neighbouring countries including India.
Abid Sher Ali on Wednesday said they were holding talks with 25 sugar mills to add 2,000 megawatts electricity to national grid. He said there are 106 sugar mills in the country and currently talks with 25 sugar mills are in progress to get electricity. He said the incumbent government is taking various initiatives on war-footing to overcome energy crisis and added that 1,500 to 2,000 megawatts electricity would be added to the system till the end of this year.
The Minister said that drive against "kunda culture" is being launched without any discrimination and urged the Parliamentarians to extend co-operation in this connection for providing electricity on cheaper rates to consumers. He termed power pilferage 'terrorism' with domestic consumers and industrialists and said that he has issued directions to the officials concerned for transformers removal of the feeders with high losses.
The State Minister said the government is providing Rs 300 billion in the shape of subsidy while electricity of about Rs 250 to Rs 300 billion is being pilfered annually across the country. To a question, Abid stated that non-bailable offence, two to three years imprisonment and Rs 1.5 million's fine could be imposed on the power pilferers. To another question, he said that 1.1 percent line losses reduced across the MEPCO during last two months. Later, the State Minister issued suspension orders of SDO Hassan Parwana sub-division, Arshad Munir on various complaints against him. Present on the occasion were MNA Abdul Rehman Kanju, PML-N leader Shahid-ul-Hassan, CEO MEPCO Abdul Rasheed Tariq and others.
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