Stealing energy

We face, of course, an energy crisis in our country of quite enormous magnitude. We also know that apart from production shortfalls, it is contributed to by theft and wrongdoing of various kinds. More evidence of this emerged as a result of a raid conducted by the FIA in Multan, where theft of gas and electricity totalling some Rs60 million was detected. The FIA is convinced that officials from the Multan Electric Power Corporation (Mepco) and the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited are involved, with 10 MEPCO employees taken into custody. Investigations are continuing and quite possibly, the detained persons may reveal other details.

The organised theft of utilities involved factories and businesses, including guest houses. One factory is reported to have developed a device to cripple meters. Meters tampered with in this fashion were detected by the FIA team, which noted that they had been manipulated to stop making readings. It is, of course, impossible to believe this could have taken place without official connivance. The fact also is that, almost undoubtedly, similar acts involving bribery and theft take place elsewhere in our country. Multan is only one small example of this. We need to crack down against similar practices on a far larger scale. In his recent address to the nation, the prime minister promised this would happen and it is important that it does. The Multan raid should be a start. What has been discovered there may also help us understand the methodologies used. This is important so that the right examples can be set and methods found to introduce more accountability within utility distribution corporations, deterring staff from engaging in similar practices. The stoppage of theft can alone help overcome an energy crisis that has virtually paralysed us while also resulting in enormous losses. It is thus essential a crackdown, conducted across the board with no one spared, takes place to prevent such stealing of precious resources.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2013.

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