Power theft: Pesco asked to lay hands on influential people

SWABI, March 27: Power consumers, welcoming the Peshawar Electric Supply Company`s planned drive against power thieves from April 1, have urged the company to lay hand on industrialists and influential people involved in huge electricity theft. They said instead of ending ` kunda` culture the Pesco should wipe out ` ghunda` culture to avoid excessive loadshedding on one hand and save power for industrial sector on the other. It has been declared by the Pesco that huge fines would be imposed on power stealers who would be sent behind bars. Ali Khan, a resident of Kernel Sher Kili, said power theft by ordinary consumers didn`t cost Pesco much but by industrialists and other influential people. "The Pesco should act against the big fish because it is more important," he said. "Once big fish are brought into the net no one would think of power theft." Consumers said that Pesco was reluctant to take action against the people with connections, adding, Pesco staff did not bother to visit what they called danger zones where power theft was rampant. The Pesco should also take action against its own employees who provide cover to the influential like politicians and target the ordinary consumers. When contacted a high-ranking official of Pesco told this correspondent on condition of anonymity that when Pesco staff tried to remove an illegal connection in Galyara area of Mardan a man with a Kalashnikov threatened the staff with dire consequences leaving the officials with no option but to leave the place without the job being done.