ISLAMABAD: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has launched a major crackdown on 87 defaulting steel furnaces, freezing their bank accounts and blocking mobile SIMs to recover outstanding dues, sources told Business Recorder.
Lesco has already disconnected these defaulters and conducted thorough site inspections, documenting all locations with photographic evidence. Awareness campaigns, including banners and wall chalking, have been carried out at defaulting premises.
So far, Rs95.9 million has been recovered through installment-based payments, while recovery notices have been issued under the Land Revenue Act for 29 connections, with 27 more in process. The six major defaulters collectively owe Rs1.38 billion, with detection bills issued for 22.92 million stolen units of electricity.
Lesco has traced the CNICs of defaulting owners and recommended the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) block their mobile numbers and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) freeze their bank accounts to expedite recovery.
The six largest cases of electricity theft involve:
Sania Shah Zeb – 2.09 million units (meter tampering)
Muhammad Jamil – 2.78 million units (direct supply)
Hari Humayun – 7.15 million units (illegal hooking)
Amanat Ali, Moeez Steel – 8.23 million units (illegal hooking)
Rouf Ahmed – 2.29 million units (direct hooking)
Naro Rice & Ice Mill, GT Road Muridke – 364,460 units (direct hooking)
Lesco is closely monitoring operational steel furnace connections to curb further electricity theft and ensure compliance with recovery efforts.
Story by Mushtaq Ghumman
