ISLAMABAD – A damning audit report has exposed widespread electricity theft across Pakistan, with three major distribution companies—Lesco, Pesco, and Hesco—reporting a combined loss of Rs5.78 billion during FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24.
The report states that 262,740 consumers were caught stealing electricity using various illegal methods, including direct connections, swindling meters, and fake installations. The worst-hit regions included Peshawar, Hyderabad, and Lahore, while isolated cases were also identified under the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco).
The financial impact of the theft was as follows:
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Pesco: Rs1.84 billion
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Hesco: Rs1.61 billion
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Lesco: Rs1.35 billion
One of the most significant incidents occurred in Lahore’s Davis Road, where a hotel was found guilty of stealing electricity worth Rs26.3 million. The hotel had manipulated three three-phase meters, tampered and reprogrammed them, freezing their readings to avoid detection. Lesco confirmed that a case has been registered and the meters were seized.
These alarming figures highlight the urgent need for strict enforcement, digital meter upgrades, and transparent oversight mechanisms to tackle the rampant power theft culture in Pakistan’s electricity sector.