Rawalpindi:The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) has registered 1,634 cases, arrested 1,344 accused, and recovered Rs106.68 million from electricity defaulters during a crackdown in the Rawalpindi division.
The Chief Executive Officer (Iesco), Dr. Amjad, along with police and administration officers, participated in an anti-electricity theft meeting chaired by Commissioner Rawalpindi Division, Aamir Khattak. During the meeting, measures to be taken across the division regarding anti-electricity theft were discussed. Commissioner Aamir Khattak has directed to intensify an indiscriminate operation against electricity thieves. He emphasized that people have to face load shedding and overcharging due to those involved in electricity theft, and they do not deserve any leniency.
The commissioner urged all officers, along with IESCO, to speed up action against electricity thieves and defaulters, ensuring 100 per cent recoveries in all districts. He also emphasized taking action on a priority basis against major power thieves and defaulters, ordering the immediate disconnection of electricity connections of those involved in electricity theft.
The Commissioner also stressed the importance of compiling a record of FIRs against electricity thieves, particularly focusing on checking big and small industries and ice factories across the division. Special attention should also be paid to commercial settlements due to the high risk of electricity theft. The commissioner further highlighted the need to check electric heaters in many hotels in Murree and emphasized individual recovery from electricity thieves rather than imposing fines on the entire area or village. Additionally, the Commissioner advised allocating adequate space for grid stations to eliminate overloading.