ISLAMABAD -  The Federal government has initiated a stern drive to eliminate corrupt elements and against the maladministration in distribution companies (Discos).

It has issued warnings and suspended dozens of officials in Sukkur and the Peshawar Electric Power companies. 

The drive has been initiated on the direction of Ministry of Water and Power Secretary Younus Dagha who is overseeing the campaign against inefficient and non–productive elements all over the country.

Stern disciplinary action was taken in Sukkur, Larkana and Dadu circles on his recent visit to these areas, a news statement said.

Fraudulent cases and non-conformity with the rules and regulations have come to the fore during the complaints launched by the consumers and inspection of the respective areas.

The Secretary asserted that no corrupt element would be spared from accountability and strict disciplinary measures would be taken against the field staff who were found involved in any fraudulent activity. He also stressed that those kind of corrupt elements not only brought bad name to the Discos but also wreak huge damage to the public exchequer.

“We have decided to dispense with the corrupt and inefficient section among the field staff in order to make the system of recoveries more efficient and ensure the incessant supply of electricity to all parts of the country,” the Secretary added. The measures are part of the current campaign initiated on the directions of Secretary Water and Power.

The Ministry officials visited and inspected the areas that come under the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and the Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) under the auspices of Secretary (Water and Power) and took stern punitive action.

In addition, Water and Power Secretary showed his displeasure over poor performance of mobile meter readers, low recovery and high line losses in SEPCO.

Dhaga also issued warning to 16 officials, removed one and another was suspended.

In this connection, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Water and Power, and Managing Director (MD) PEPCO (Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pvt.) Limited, has suspended 21 officials, and served explanatory letters to 34 officials of the PESCO on disciplinary and efficiency grounds. It is to be noted that in the current drive, nine cases of dummy meter reading has been identified in Abbottabad city-1, Abbottabad Shimla, Havalian, Lora Chowk, Abbottabad City-2, Jinnah Abad, Nawan Sher, Khaki and Garhi Habibullah, which are sub-divisions of PESCO.