Power theft: Pakistan recovers over Rs152 bln from defaulters

The Power Division has recovered over Rs152 billion during a countrywide power theft crackdown from September 2023 to date, ARY News reported on Tuesday. 

The crackdown launched by the Pakistani government and military leadership’s measures to restore the country’s economy are now showing positive results.

According to details, over 152 billion rupees have been recovered from individuals involved in power theft while over 116,000 electricity thieves were arrested.

From first September, Pakistan recovered Rs152.54 billion from the defaulters and registered as many as 114,814 cases were registered.

The Pakistan government has vowed to continue the crackdown until the menace of power theft ends across the country.

Read more: Crackdown begins against corrupt officers to prevent power theft

On September 6, last year, the then caretaker federal government announced plans to launch a crackdown across the country on electricity theft in a bid to reduce the ballooning circular debt in the power sector.

The power minister said that there are 10 distribution companies in Pakistan that are facing a total loss of Rs589 billion annually. He said electricity theft and non-payment of electricity bills are the major causes of this huge loss.

It is to be noted here that the inflated power bills triggered country-wide protests from Karachi to Khyber and protests in some parts of the country turned violent.