ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has mandated immediate action against power distribution company (DISCO) officials involved in overbilling electricity consumers.
In a meeting on Saturday focused on power sector reforms, he directed the immediate suspension of such officials and ordered the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the matter.
The meeting, held at the PM Office, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as well as federal ministers and senior officials including Jam Kamal Khan, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, and Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik.
PM Shehbaz emphasized that corrupt officials responsible for adding extra units to consumers’ bills must face exemplary punishment. He highlighted the need to expose those who had unfairly billed consumers using less than 200 units per month.
The prime minister also stressed the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy for power generation, noting that Pakistan can no longer rely on imported fuel. He reiterated his commitment to protecting the poor from the consequences of past policy failures and assured that the use of affordable renewable energy would eventually lower monthly electricity bills for consumers.
He instructed the closure of non-functional and expensive government-run power units and emphasized tapping into Pakistan’s vast potential for solar energy as a priority.
PM Shehbaz called for strict accountability in the power sector and a swift move towards sustainable energy solutions to alleviate the financial burden on the public and improve the efficiency of power generation in Pakistan.