PAC panel annoyed at theft in Discos

Committee asks officials concerned to take steps to prevent such incidents in future

ISLAMABAD:

A subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has expressed annoyance over the incidents of theft at various electricity distribution companies (Discos).

During a meeting on Tuesday, Committee member Munnaza Hassan pointed out that even transformers were stolen. She stressed the need for a system to prevent these incidents. Committee Convener Riaz Fatyana directed the authorities concerned to ensure that such incidents did not recur.

The meeting reviewed the audit objections regarding the energy ministry for the year 2010-11. Audit officials told the committee that electric materials were stolen from various places in Fesco. Fatyana asked whether the thieves came from outside or “did the staff steal it”?

He noted that transformer could not be stolen without an expert hand. Fesco officials told the committee that recoveries had been made in 99 cases. The committee directed to verify the recoveries within 15 days.

Audit officials told the committee that in Mepco the theft of electric material from various places caused a loss of Rs15 million. The committee directed the authorities concerned to recover the stolen material within 4 weeks and verify it.

The energy secretary told the committee that paras were related to 2010-11. "Such issues will not happen again," the officials told the committee. "The situation is much better now than it was before." Fatyana asked the official to make sure “there are no such incidents in the future”.