Over the past week alone, government has recovered over Rs28 million in its nationwide anti-electricity theft campaign.
The ongoing crackdown, aimed at addressing the country's electricity crisis, has resulted in 97 arrests and 1,507 new cases filed against electricity thieves in just the last seven days, according to official reports.
Since the campaign's launch on September 1, 2023, authorities have recovered a substantial sum of Rs152.547 billion from individuals and entities involved in power theft. The comprehensive operation has led to the registration of 314,814 cases and the arrest of 116,585 individuals across the country.
Relevant agencies have expressed their commitment to continuing operations until the complete elimination of electricity theft throughout Pakistan. This initiative forms a critical component of the government's strategy to stabilize the power sector and support broader economic recovery.
The anti-theft measures are designed to reduce system losses, improve revenue collection for power distribution companies, and ultimately lower the financial burden on paying consumers. These actions reflect the government's attempt to address structural issues within Pakistan's energy sector.
Electricity theft has long been identified as a major contributor to Pakistan's circular debt problem and unreliable power supply. By targeting this issue, authorities aim to create a more sustainable and efficient electricity infrastructure that can support economic growth.
The campaign employs a multi-faceted approach including technical monitoring, field inspections, and legal prosecution to identify and penalize those involved in illegal power connections and meter tampering.
Officials indicate that the recovered funds will be channeled back into the power sector to improve infrastructure and service delivery, potentially alleviating some aspects of the country's persistent electricity crisis.
