In an effort to tackle the issue of electricity theft, Pakistan has witnessed a successful crackdown that not only saved billions in losses but also effectively curbed power pilferage.
This intensive campaign – initiated by the caretaker government in collaboration with the military leadership – has yielded substantial financial savings and a remarkable decrease in unauthorized power consumption.
During this campaign, concerned institutions swiftly executed reshuffles, suspensions, and legal actions against those engaged in electricity theft.
The crackdown was not without resistance. Officers and staff dedicated to eradicating power theft encountered aggression from small criminal factions acting on behalf of these thieves.
Reports surfaced detailing the physical harm, injuries, hostage situations, and even direct assaults on officials involved in the crackdown.
The urgency of this operation stems from the staggering annual loss estimated at a monumental 589 billion in the national grid, a substantial portion—199 billion—attributed to ex-FATA, Balochistan tube wells, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the resilience of the campaign manifested in the arrest of 25,142 electricity thieves across the country, resulting in the recovery of 34 billion rupees.
This resolute action has significantly curbed the monthly loss by more than 12 billion.
Prior to the crackdown, approximately 9 percent of electricity units were being siphoned off, but this figure drastically plummeted to 3.4 percent post-operation.
