The officials were involved in aiding and abetting electricity theft, taking bribes, stealing the company’s material and taking monthly charges from illegal consumers. PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Seventeen top officials of Lahore Electricity Supply Company (Lesco), who are allegedly corrupt, are still working on lucrative posts without any fear of accountability and action despite an intensive government campaign to stem rampant corruption and power theft in an effort to improve the supply of electricity.
The corrupt heavyweights include two directors, two chief engineers, three executive engineers and 10 managers, says a report sent by the Government of Punjab to the chairman and chief executive officer of Lesco.
These officials were found involved in aiding and abetting electricity theft, taking bribes from owners of factories, stealing the company’s material and taking monthly charges from illegal consumers.
At present, some of them are working in the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
Lesco enjoys administrative control over five cities including Lahore for distribution, management and collection of bills as well as addressing consumer complaints.
On the other hand, 230 lower-grade employees including linesmen, meter readers and lines superintendents were facing departmental investigation into charges of corruption and abetting in electricity theft by factories, plazas and furnaces, said an official but requested anonymity.
“Juniors face the wrath of authorities while seniors get off scot-free,” a high official of Lesco remarked.
Drive against theft
In June last year, the Punjab chief minister constituted a task force, headed by the secretary of industries, commerce and investment, in a bid to launch a campaign to stop electricity and gas theft in the province.
Later, the task force formed committees at district and tehsil levels to conduct raids without any discrimination on places consuming gas and electricity illegally.
Since June, 32,000 raids have been conducted and 3,350 cases, involving theft of more than Rs500,000 worth of electricity each, have been registered.
In the campaign, theft of Rs1 billion had been detected until December with a major share in Lahore. However, no high official was found involved, which raised many eyebrows.
“It is a big question mark – how could consumers manage to steal a huge quantity of electricity without the connivance of officials of the supplying company,” a senior official of the task force asked.
Later, a group of company officials from directors to managers at the highest level was found patronising the nasty business, he added.
According to the report, during the campaign, Intelligence Bureau provided a list of 17 corrupt officials of Lesco to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif for their involvement in electricity theft. The list was also presented to the Inter-services Intelligence (ISI) for verification.
Agreeing with the list, the ISI remarked that all the officials were living beyond means and enjoying luxuries of life, which were otherwise not possible with the salaries they were receiving.
The agency also said some of them were involved in immoral activities as well. They were residing in big bungalows in posh localities.
Responding to this report, the industries secretary, who was also the chairperson of the task force, recommended to the chief minister to send the list to the chairman of Lesco board of directors, Federal Investigation Agency and the ministry concerned for initiating action against the corrupt and recovery of lost money.
The chief minister agreed that the list should be sent to the chairman/CEO of Lesco and FIA for action without mentioning the source of information. Following the approval, the industries, commerce and investment department provided the list to the chairman of Lesco on December 13.
Rules to be followed
Talking to The Express Tribune, Lesco CEO Arshad Rafique said the company had not yet received any such list.
“Action against the accused will be taken according to company rules and regulations,” he said. “They may face a major penalty (termination from services) if allegations are proved.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2014.
Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.
COMMENTS (16)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Punjab government is doing the best they can...
No wonder when these leaders rule they plunder whole Pakistan as their God Forsaken right to be at the head of River Indus.
@Siddh: "So what’s news in this?? This is sadly very common in Pakistan" . As some hotshot said recently corruption is not a problem in the country.
Take the following actions Fire them from their job Freeze all their and family member's accounts Confiscate their properties and sell those properties by public auction. Then take them to the court and put them in jail for rest of their life.
@Bunty: Thanks Bunty for the info. All we have been hearing for the last several years that "Punjab is the best governed province". If you don't believe me ask Sharif Brothers who have been ruling/abusing the province and the country. There is little difference among provinces when it comes to corruption. Regards, M
It a sham that abid shar ali would happily cut the electricity to a poor household but would not ask his uncale to pay about 100 millions they owe on there industries.
Look at #8 on the list of top defaulters according to Lahore Electric Supply Co along with the time that has passed since not paying: http://www.lesco.gov.pk/News&Media/5000071.asp
@Mirza: Its because we know that we can get away with murder Mirza Ji.. You make the law more effective and make an example of some of the top guys, our history as nation is that we will subservient to the law for ever!!
Any reason ET cannot publish reasons that COMMENTS section is now missing/removed from so many articles recently? If this continues, "Most Commented" section can be removed from webpage to save space!
Well done Punjab Govt. Let us see who else has the moral courage to catch the thieves.
Where is Abid Sher Ali? Would he hold a press conference now and call Shahbaz Sharif as aider and abater of electricity thieves?
You know nothing will happen. The PML talk a good game but when push comes to shove, they resort to type and protect the crooked people. Nothing will change this time.
I distinctly remember visiting Lahore in 1978 and staying at the residence of a WAPDA engineer. His home did not have any electric meter. This is going on for generations and nothing new. Nobody can descend from the sky and teach us not to be corrupt. Corruption is in our generations and it is only increasing. No political leader even worst one has taught us to add water in milk or make fake drugs which we are doing for many generations. Bad to the bone and blaming the others that they are corrupt.
We were told by Abid Sher Ali that there is no significant power theft in Punjab. His assertion that punjab were a beacon of honesty, truth and uprightness in the world was factually incorrect.