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ISLAMABAD, Nov 30 (APP):Power distribution companies across the country intensified their crackdown on electricity theft, registering 309,757 First Information Reports (FIRs) and arresting 129,117 individuals during a two-year campaign from January 2022 to December 2024.
The crackdown uncovered 501 million units of stolen electricity, resulting in detection bills worth Rs 19,651 million. However, only Rs 11,361 million has been recovered, leaving a gap of more than Rs 8.29 billion. The figures, covering the two-year campaign, show a national recovery rate of just 57.81 percent.
According to official figures, Punjab led with 252,307 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against power pilferage, resulting in 115,577 arrests. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa followed with 40,112 FIRs and 11,012 arrests, while Sindh recorded 16,688 FIRs and 2,319 arrests. Balochistan reported 650 cases with 209 arrests during the two-year period.
Officials confirmed that the recovered amount is deposited into the DISCOs’ revenue accounts without allocation under any specific head.
LESCO filed 171,178 FIRs and arrested 50,123 suspects over the theft of 187 million kWh units. The company issued detection bills worth Rs 7.06 billion, recovering Rs 4.03 billion — a 57.08 percent recovery rate.
GEPCO and FESCO reported strong results, achieving recoveries of 94.62 percent and 79.69 percent respectively, while IESCO recorded a recovery rate of 87.66 percent of its billed amount.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recorded one of the poorest outcomes, managing to recover just 22.31 percent of its billed amount.
Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) reported that while it booked electricity theft cases amounting to Rs 3.15 billion, the utility managed to recover only Rs 690 million — reflecting a recovery rate of just 21.84 percent.
Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company (TESCO) registered 264 FIRs in power theft cases, leading to the arrest of 24 individuals. The utility reported a modest recovery rate of 60.49 percent.