Breaking new ground: WAPDA sets up police station to prevent power theft

Cases from Charsadda will be heard at the station on a daily basis.

CHARSADDA: The first ever Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) police station opened in Charsadda on Tuesday. The station will be manned by a police inspector, two sub-inspectors, two ASIs and 30 other police personnel.

According to Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) Charsadda Executive Engineer Tahir Khan, the police station was set up under the directives of the federal government but would be staffed by the district.



The police station is meant to help overcome power theft and line losses, and provide relief to consumers in the district, added Khan. He advised consumers to help Pesco officials do their job or else face legal consequences. A magistrate will hear cases on a daily basis at the Wapda police station.

Pesco has suffered from line losses and stolen electricity without much help from local police in the past. These problems, combined with issues of infrastructure and investment, led to power blackouts spanning as long as 20 hours in the province earlier in the summer.

In a last-ditch effort, Pesco started an anti-theft drive in Ramazan, plying consumers with billboards advertising the benefits of ‘Shariah compliant’ usage instead of ‘offering prayers under stolen electricity’.



Even though the centre has paid off part of the government-owned power companies’ Rs5 billion debt, Pesco needs help in collecting dues. Deteriorating law and order in the province has stretched the local police force thin, resulting in the federal and provincial governments’ decision to establish a Wapda police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2013.