LAHORE - The Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has disconnected power supply to public sector 'dead defaulters' who have not paid their electricity bills of millions of rupees for the last many months.
The defaulters included Punjab Assembly, Kot Lakhpat Jail, Punjab Cooperative Board, office of assistant director regional passport, DG Health, Dental College, TMA Aziz Bhatti office, AIG Finance, Police, Irrigation etc.
The Lesco officials said that Kot Lakhpat Jail is the defaulter of Rs62 million, TMA Aziz Bhatti office Rs13 million, while different public sector hospitals across Punjab, Wasa, police and several other public sector institutions are defaulters of millions of rupees, creating troubles for the company.
The Lesco has intensified its drive for the recovery of millions of rupees arrears by initially disconnecting power supply to all chronic defaulters irrespective of their social status.
Lesco CEO Mujahid Pervaiz Chattha said that billions of rupees arrears were pending against private and public sectors.
He said that the Lesco had warned public and private sector defaulters to clear their arrears forthwith within the stipulated period otherwise face disconnection.
He said Lesco following the instructions of the federal minister, has asked all defaulters whether they are government departments or private sector to clear their financial liabilities immediately, otherwise, their power supply will be switched off without succumbing to any sort of pressure from any quarter.
The chief executive said all SEs, Xens and SDOs had been directed to expedite recovery on a top priority and personally ensure realisation on a daily basis.
He said defaulters who failed to clear their outstanding dues after expiry of a deadline, will be deprived of power supply till the amount is paid.
He said special cells at circle, division and sub-division levels had been set up for immediate restoration of power supply after payment of arrears.
He said performance of all officers was being monitored through a computerised network on a daily basis and officers showing better output would be rewarded while who failed to achieve targets would be taken to task.
He categorically warned them if power supply of any defaulter was restored without payment of arrears, concerned SDO would be suspended forthwith.
He further warned that officers found guilty of issuing bogus or excessive billing to cover up their distribution losses would also have to face music while meter reader concerned will be suspended.