The federal government has decided to appoint officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and intelligence agencies in power distribution companies (DISCOs) to stop corruption.
PM Shehbaz Sharif instructs Power Division to appoint FIA officials in DISCOs. Deputy director-level officers will be permanently stationed there. Political appointees to be removed from DISCOs. FIA to investigate corrupt practices involving distribution company directors.
In March, the Prime Minister ordered immediate disciplinary action against officers involved in electricity theft. He emphasized the need to privatize generation companies swiftly, citing their burden on the national exchequer.
An amendment to section 462(O) of the Pakistan Penal Code was introduced via ordinance, making electricity theft a cognizable offense. A significant decline in electricity theft was observed following an anti-theft campaign in September last year, with Rs. 57 billion recovered since then.
During the campaign, 350 distribution company personnel were suspended for poor performance or abetting theft.
