Pesco gears up to curb power theft

PESHAWAR, April 1: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) have decided to initiate a joint operation to curb power theft in the province. It was decided at a high-level meeting, which was chaired by Secretary Home and Tribal Affairs Arbab Muhammad Arif here on Friday. Besides Pesco chief executive Muhammad Wali, divisional commissioners, deputy inspector general (police) and officers of the public utility attended the meeting. The meeting was convened to discuss the issues of loadshedding and to find out means to help the public utility ensure uninterrupted power supply to the consumers, said a press release. The meeting decided setting up of enforcement units at district level. These units will consist of the respective district coordination officer, district police officer and XEN Pesco. These units would be responsible for coordinating operations to remove kundas (illegal power connections).< /p> It was also decided that civil administration will support the Pesco officials in this campaign, as police force will be provided for removing kundas as well as recovery of arrears, the release said. The meeting also decided that FIRs would be registered on the spot against the accused and there would be no discrimination during the campaign. However, anybody willing to remove kunda voluntarily will be given a fresh electricity connection. Speaking on the occasion, Pesco Chief Executive Muhammad Wali explained that field staff of the public utility had been directed to avoid overbilling and in case of any complaints, prompt action should be taken. He anticipated that supply of electricity will be smoother and duration of the loadshedding will also be reduced as a result of this campaign. The meeting also decided to engage local elders and parliamentarians to make this campaign a success, the press release added.