LAHORE: On the ninth day of the anti-power theft operation on Friday, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) charged 304 power pilferers, accumulating a detection bill of 711,109 units worth over Rs30.205 million.

A total of 304 connections across all circles were found involved in electricity theft. Applications for FIRs against all electricity thieves have been filed in the respective police stations, resulting in 149 FIRs being registered, and the arrest of 20 suspects.

The seized connections are of one industrial, five agricultural, 12 commercial, and 286 domestic. All these connections have been disconnected.

In Ganda Singh area, Ghulam Mustafa was found stealing electricity from a direct supply for agricultural purposes, resulting in a charge of 19,490 units worth Rs487,250 in terms of a detection bill. In the same area of Ganda Singh, another customer in Shahdin Village was charged 21,760 units worth Rs544,250 for stealing electricity from a direct supply. Muhammad Zafar faced a charge of 22,360 units worth Rs 559,000 as a detection bill.

In the Bilawal Colony sub-division, Basharat was caught stealing electricity from a direct supply for agricultural purposes and was charged 48,327 units worth Rs1.014 million under the detection bill.

He also faced a charge of 43,800 units worth Rs919,800 for electricity theft at another location. Pervez Iqbal, an electricity thief, was charged detection bills of 45,625 units worth Rs958,125 and 43,800 units worth Rs919,800 for electricity theft at two locations, including a domestic connection.

Talib Hussain, accused of tampering with an industrial meter in Hujra Shah Moqeem, was charged 16,000 units amounting to Rs650,000 as a detection bill.

PR: Pakistan Railways (PR) also detected nine cases of power theft in the PR colony in Lahore. The teams also charged the power pilferers with the detection bills amounting to rupees 600,000 in total. PR procures electricity from the respective Discos and supply it through its own power houses to rail colonies across the country

DEVELOPMENT: Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi paid a visit to the Ghora Chowk Flyover construction site to evaluate the development progress. The chief minister emphasized the need to utilize all available resources efficiently to ensure the timely completion of the Ghora Chowk Flyover.

“Our top priority is the public’s relief and the development of Lahore. The Ghora Chowk Flyover will significantly alleviate traffic congestion in the area,” Mr Naqvi said.

The Ghora Chowk flyover is being constructed with an estimated cost of Rs1.5 billion. The three-lane, 450-meter-long flyover will be completed within 90 days. It will accommodate 200,000 vehicles daily.

Published in Dawn, September 16th, 2023