ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to conduct a comprehensive technical audit of all power distribution companies (DISCOs) to identify the scale and causes of electricity theft and distribution losses.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division Senator Ahad Cheema and Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari co-chaired a meeting of the committee formed under the prime minister’s directives to address inefficiencies and electricity theft in DISCOs.
The committee received detailed briefings from the Power Division, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Pakistan Digital Authority and other relevant institutions.
Officials briefed the committee on electricity theft, distribution losses, recoveries and technology-based measures in the power sector.
Technical Audit to Identify Causes of Losses
Following the deliberations, the committee decided to conduct a technical audit of all DISCOs.
The audit will assess the actual scale, causes and geographical concentration of electricity theft. It will also examine technical and commercial losses across the distribution network.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication will provide technological support and facilitate the audit through a transparent mechanism.
The government will soon issue an Expression of Interest to hire qualified technical experts for the exercise.
The committee will finalise the Terms of Reference for the audit by next week.
Senator Ahad Cheema said the audit must provide a detailed analysis of the causes behind electricity theft and distribution losses.
“The government is fully focused on reducing electricity theft. Under no circumstances will the burden of power theft or inefficiencies within the distribution system be shifted to the people. Overbilling is completely unacceptable,” he said.
Cheema said the findings would help the government introduce targeted measures based on credible data. He also stressed the need to prevent a further increase in circular debt.
Solarisation Projects Under Review
Power Minister Awais Leghari said the Power Division was aligned with the committee’s objectives and was working to control electricity theft and distribution losses.
He said the government was particularly focusing on DISCOs with high levels of electricity theft.
The committee also reviewed incentive-based solarisation pilot projects in areas served by Peshawar Electric Power Company (PESCO) and Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO).
The projects aim to provide solar energy solutions in areas facing high electricity theft and distribution losses. Officials said the initiative could reduce pressure on the electricity network and help address persistent losses.
Govt Rejects Overbilling to Cover Losses
The committee reviewed technology-based measures to detect irregularities and improve monitoring across the distribution network.
The co-chairs stressed the need to use digital tools and reliable data to strengthen accountability and identify problems.
They noted progress in addressing overbilling but warned DISCOs against concealing electricity theft, losses or operational inefficiencies through excessive billing.
The co-chairs said consumers must not bear the cost of weaknesses within the distribution system.
The committee also reviewed the recovery performance of DISCOs and expressed satisfaction with improvements recorded during the current year.
It stressed that the improvement must continue through better governance, stronger monitoring, technology-based reforms and targeted action in high-loss areas.
