Electricity theft: Power defaulters’ collusion with authorities goes undetected

Influential industrialists continue to receive uninterrupted power supply despite defaulting into billions.

ISLAMABAD:
As power systems across the country take a nose dive due to increasing financial constraints, a number of top-level industry defaulters continue to make use of uninterrupted power supply to expand their industrial empires.

An official list – a copy of which is available with Express Investigation Cell (EIC) – suggests that powerful industrialists have colluded with concerned authorities to ensure that they receive uninterrupted electricity for their industrial units without paying anything to the utility companies.

This covert and illegal collusion is also said to be one of the major sources of electricity theft in the country — costing the national exchequer billions of rupees every month. Despite the mishandling, none of the power distribution companies have invoked the Electricity Act 1910 to recover the outstanding dues from the defaulters — which have now reached billions of rupees.

The Act states that authorities will register a case against defaulters for the recovery of outstanding dues to avoid financial losses to the company. The data made available to The Express Tribune shows that instead of taking action against the perpetrators, authorities have compromised the national interest of the country for petty gains and continue to provide the defaulters every possible window of safety.

Other than the huge default on payments, Pakistan’s line losses range between 35-42%. Such staggering rates of line losses exemplify the power sector’s weakness and pose a question on the credibility of the concerned authorities.

The significant size of the defaulted amount is enough to prove that the National Transmission & Dispatch Company (NTDC) and other concerned departments wilfully colluded with chronic defaulters to steal electricity.

Meanwhile, Water and Power Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar has vowed to monitor these pilferages to bring line losses to an acceptable level, besides pledging to recover the defaulted payments. He appears determined to plug in loopholes in the power sector to overcome load shedding.

“I am working on the energy crisis on a day-to-day basis and putting in every possible effort to overcome load shedding to give relief to the people. I will also make sure that the NTDC recovers every penny from the defaulters,” Mukhtar said.

The following is the list of the defaulters:   

Lahore Electric Supply Company Limited (LESCO)

Liaqat Ali, GT Road Lahore (Rs27.5 million)

Haji Sharif, SK Steel Lahore (Rs18.2 million)

MS Abdul Ghani, Steel Mill Shadipura Lahore (Rs11.2 million)

M Shahzad, Shadipura Lahore (Rs7.3 million)

Sikandar Mahmood, Nice Foundary Lahore (Rs6.05 million)

Malik Khawar Sadiq, Lahore (Rs5.3 million)

Ch Rahmat, Rehmat Steel Lahore (Rs30.2 million)

M Jamil, Lahore (Rs8.5 million)

Siddique, Iron Industry Lahore (Rs7.4 million)

M Tufail Chiti, Khuti Lahore (Rs6.9 million)

Rizwan Butt, Alfalah Steel Foundry Lahore (Rs6.8 million)

Raja M Amin, Lahore (Rs6.8 million)

Chinab Limited Lahore (Rs12.7 million)

Hajra Textile Mills Sheikhupura (Rs17.5 million)

M Durez, M-S Flying Board &Paper Sheikhupra (Rs47.4 million)

Kashif Amanat, MS Zeb Rice Mills Muredke (Rs5.3 million)

Malik M Ali Yar, Mouk Paper Board Industries Bhai Phuru (Rs34.8 million)

Shafiq ur Rehman, Al-Karam Steel Furnace  Gujranwala ( Rs19.6 million)

Lala Asadullah M/s Haq Bahu, Steel Furnace Gujranwala (Rs16.9 million)

M Afzal, Pak Madina Steel Mills Gujranwala (Rs7.4 million)

M Iftikhar M/s Rizwan, Steel Furnace Eminabad Gujranwala (Rs7.2 million)

M Riaz, Fayyaz Furnace Gujranwala (Rs7.8 million)

Malik Haroon M/s Usman, Steel Furnace Daska (Rs15.4 million)

M Farooq, Sindhu Steel Mills Daska (Rs10.5 million)

M Nawaz Narowal (Rs14.5 million)

M/s T&N Pakistan (Pvt) Limited Jaranwala (Rs5.8 million)

Colony Thal Textile Mills Bhakhar (Rs11.8 million)

DM Textile Mills Rawalpindi (Rs7.8 million),

Ali Khan Falken Marble Factory Doaba (Rs5.1 mmillion)

Khyber Steel Re rolling Mills Peshawar (Rs14.5 million)

Adam Jee Paper Mills Peshawar (Rs10.9 million)

Mr Zafar, GSC Oversior NTPS colony Peshawar (Rs9.9 million)

M/s Dadabhoy Cement Kalar Kahar (Rs7.1 million)

M/s Popular Fiber Mills SITE Nooriabad (RS7.1 million)

M/s Khas Textile Mills Noriabad (Rs6.5 million)

Principal Government High School Nadero (Rs6.2 million)

M.s Divisional Engineer PTCL Jacakabad (Rs6.8 million)

M/s Saduja Textile Mills Moro (Rs14.5 million)

M/s Moro Textile Mills Moro (Rs5.2 million)

Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO)

Jawan Saal, Dera Bugti (Rs5.2 million)

Gul Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5.2 million)

Pir Bukush, Dera Bugti (Rs5.2 million)

Mehaullah, Khan Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)

Sabz Ali,  Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)

Amir Jan, Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)

Din Mohammad, Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)

Fateh Mohammad, Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)


Dalak, Dera Bugti (Rs5.3 million)

Koshi, Dera Bugti  (Rs5.4 million)

Gul Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)

Khair Buksh, Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)

Mian Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)

Dad Ali, Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)

Dadhan, Dera Bugti (Rs5 million)

Haji Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5.1 million)

Malookan, Dera Bugti (Rs5 million)

Miran Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5 million)

Palaya Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5 million)

Hussain Bukhush, Dera Bugti (Rs5 million)

Mehr Din, Dera Bugti (Rs5 million)

Kushi Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5.2 million)

Mithan Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5 million)

Darman Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5 million)

Doda Khan, Dera Bugti (Rs5 million)

M Nadeem, Ziarat (Rs9.3 million)

Mir Ali Raza Khan, Jhal Magsi (Rs7.06 million)

Sadiq Mangal, Nasirabad (Rs5.1 million)

Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company (TESCO)

Imran Khan, Royal Foundry Jamrood (Rs24.1 million)

Dawood Steel Fabrication, Baraa (Rs20 million)

Mohmand Moudling Works Jamrood, Khyber Agency (Rs15 million)

Zahir Shah Hasan, Gari (Rs12.5 million)

Noorul Haq, Landi Kotal (Rs11.5 million)

Ashiq Mir, Landi Kotal (Rs10.4 million)

Ittehad Steel Mills, Malakand Agency (Rs9.6 million)

Amir Nawaz, Peshawar (Rs9.2 million)

Abid Khan, Steel Fabrication Malakand Agency (Rs8.9 million)

Akhtar Mahmood, Peshawar (Rs8.6 million)

Inayat Shah, Peshawar (Rs8 million)

H Misal Khan (Rs7.9 million)

M Umar, Alamgadar (Rs7.7 million)

Rawal Khan, Marble Factory Tangi (Rs7.3 million)

Javed Gul, Tangi (Rs7.6 million)

Shamshad Mir, Peshawar (Rs7.3 million)

Mahmood Marble Factory Tangi (Rs7.28 million)

Aurangzeb Khan, S/ Qadar (Rs7.2 million)

Syed Mohd, Peshawar (Rs6.6 million)

Ziaul Islam, Peshawar (Rs6.6 million)

Nasarullah Jan, Peshawar (Rs6.5 million)

Amin Shah, Marble Factory Peshawar (Rs6.5 million)

Lalzadin Peshawar (Rs6.2 million)

Hayadullah, Peshawar (Rs5.6 million)

Noorza Khan, Mula Gori Peshawar (Rs5.8 million)

Islmail Khan, Pandiali (Rs5.8 million)

Khushal Khan, Peshawar (Rs5.6 million)

Abid Gul (Rs5.4 million)

Mian Sarfraz Gul, Marble Factory Tangi (Rs5.4 million)

Babar Sahib, Peshawar (Rs5.3 million)

Zahid Gul, Peshawar (Rs5.2 million)

Ziauddin Mula, Gori Peshawar (Rs5.1 million)

M Islam, Peshawar (Rs5.3 million)

Akhtar Munir Zarief, Karona (Rs5 million)

H M Raza, Peshawar (Rs5 million)

Niaz Mohammad, Bajur (Rs5 million)

Akbar Khan, Adam Khel (Rs6.8 million)

Abdul Rehman, Kohat (Rs6.8 million)
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