PESHAWAR: The Provincial Task Force on Power has recovered more than Rs.4 billion in two months from electricity dues defaulters and imposed Rs 240 million fines on power thieves.
The successful campaign has led to a cut in duration of loadshedding in several areas in the light of the successful campaign. The information was shared during the fifth meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Power chaired by Additional Chief Secretary, Home & Tribal Affairs Abid Majeed.
Divisional commissioners, regional police officers, secretary Energy & Power Nisar Ahmad Khan, representative officer of Industries Department and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) Chief Executive Officer Qazi Tahir were present there.
It was informed that after Mardan, the provincial capital, Peshawar, would be made a load-shedding free model city in the next two months.
The meeting was told that a plan has been prepared to speed up the ongoing operation in Peshawar city.
For this purpose, various teams of district administration, police force and Pesco staff were engaged in conducting operations in illegal housing societies, residential areas inside and outside the city, important commercial centers, factories, streets and markets.
The meeting was informed that during the ongoing crackdown in different districts of the province from September 5 to date, the task force had conducted over 24,574 raids.
More than 36,246 illegal connections or kundas, including those used by large commercial and residential consumers were cut off.
Cases were registered against more than 11,452 accused at police stations and 685 suspects were arrested.
Task Force Chairman Muhammad Abid Majeed said that a simple procedure for providing a metering system amongst the general public should be encouraged and the operation against big fish should be accelerated at commercial level. He said the operation should be increased for recovery of dues from non-paying consumers in Banu, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and Mardan divisions.
Peshawar Commissioner Zubair Khan and Capital City Police Officer Ashfaq Anwar talked of the plan of action for the ongoing campaign while the CEO of Pesco was directed to present photographic and personal witnesses at the time of registering FIRs/Marasla against the culprits.
