The Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) on Saturday claimed that in its vigorous crackdown against electricity thieves continues and it caught 34 more thieves in the last 24 hours. According to FESCO spokespersons, Fesco teams in six operation circles of the Fesco region caught the thieves during checking for direct supply and other methods of electricity theft. The thieves were fined over 55 million rupees and their connections were disconnected. Fesco also filed FIRs against them in the respective police stations. A Fesco spokesperson said that the crackdown against electricity theft is being carried out on the instructions of the Government and the Ministry of Energy Power Division. Indiscriminate checking against power thieves is being done day and night in all eight districts of the Fesco region.

So far in Faisalabad district, over 27 lakh 73 thousand detection units and over 129 million fine have been imposed on 1018 electricity thieves. In Bhakkar district, 321 electricity thieves have been given over 827 thousand detection units and over 4 crore 22 lakh fines. In Mianwali district, 372 electricity thieves have been imposed over 8 lakh 37 thousand detection units and over 3 crore 84 lakh fines. In Toba Tek Singh district, 346 electricity thieves have been imposed over 8 lakh 44 thousand detection units and over 3 crore 74 lakh fines. In Okara district, 6 lakh to 21 thousand detection units and over 3 crore 11 lakh fine have been imposed on electricity thieves.

 In total, a total of 3084 electricity thieves have been issued more than 85 lakh 33 thousand detection units and a fine of more than 38 crore 94 lakh has been imposed on 3084 electricity thieves from Fesco region during 43 days. 2911 domestic, 89 commercial, 78 agricultural and 6 industrial consumers were found involved in these electricity thieves. Cases have been registered against 2959 electricity thieves in various police stations. Fesco is also running a special campaign to recover dues from defaulters. The recovery teams have collected over 11 crore 49 lakhs from running defaulters and over 32 crore 60 lakhs from permanent defaulters in the Fesco region. This includes domestic, commercial and industrial users.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)