LHC stay order halts collection of fixed electricity charges after appeal from companies

The Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued a stay order against the collection of fixed charges on electricity bills, following a petition filed by nine companies, including Flying Paper Mills.

Justice Muhammad Raza Qureshi presided over the hearing, where the petitioners challenged the imposition of fixed charges by Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO).

Representing the petitioners, Advocate Khawaja Waseem Abbas argued that LESCO imposed fixed charges without obtaining necessary approvals from the cabinet or the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA).

He pointed out that one of the companies received a bill of Rs 3.2 million without any electricity usage, with charges escalating to Rs 15.6 million this month.

The petitioners requested the court to order the cancellation of these fixed charges.

The court has halted their collection pending further hearings.