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Friday February 14, 2025

Provision of free electricity to employees of govt-owned power sector justified

Documents reveal 441.5m units of free electricity were given annually to 200,000 employees of public and corporate sector

By Our Correspondent
January 24, 2025
A technician fixes new electricity meters at a residential building in Pakistan, in this undated photo. — AFP/File
A technician fixes new electricity meters at a residential building in Pakistan, in this undated photo. — AFP/File

ISLAMABAD: The Power Division has justified the provision of free electricity to the employees of government-owned power sector saying the facility was a part of the terms and conditions of their appointments like medical and accommodation.

The Power Division told the National Assembly in a written reply to a question of Naveed Aamir that the facility extended to employees was also in line with the normal public sector and corporate sector practices like the PIA, SNGPL, SSGC, Pakistan Railways and Pakistan Telecommunication Limited.

According to the documents, 441.5 million units of free electricity were given annually to 200,000 employees of the public and corporate sector.

Similarly, 308.2 million units of free electricity were given annually to the current employees, while 133.2 million units were given to retired employees.

The document states that 149,000 employees of Discos were given free units.