ISLAMABAD – In a major revelation, three power distribution companies—Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), and Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco)—have collectively reported electricity theft worth Rs5.78 billion over the past two fiscal years (2022-23 and 2023-24).
According to an official audit report, a staggering 262,740 consumers were found involved in various forms of electricity theft across multiple regions. The most affected areas included Peshawar, Hyderabad, and Lahore, with additional cases reported under the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco).
The methods of theft ranged from direct hooking, meter tampering, installation of fake meters, and data manipulation, with the issue spreading across nine regional zones during the two fiscal years.
The breakdown of reported losses includes:
Pesco: Rs1.84 billion
Hesco: Rs1.61 billion
Lesco: Rs1.35 billion
One of the most blatant incidents occurred in Lahore, where a hotel located on Davis Road was found stealing electricity worth Rs26.3 million through manipulation of three-phase meters. According to a Lesco spokesperson, the hotel had tampered with and reprogrammed meters to freeze readings. Legal action has been initiated and the tampered meters have been confiscated.
The findings raise serious concerns about weak enforcement, poor oversight, and the need for stricter measures to curb rampant power theft, which directly affects national energy sustainability and consumer pricing.
