ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday directed for initiation of proceedings against the power distribution company (Discos) officers and personnel, who were found sending inflated electricity bills to consumers.

While chairing a meeting regarding reforms in power sector and solarisation process, the PM ordered the FIA to investigate the matter and directed the power division to suspend all those officials found guilty.

He said exemplary punishment be given to those officials who had included additional units to inflate the monthly bills of the protected consumers’ category, using less than 200 units per month, according to a PM Office statement.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Jam Kamal Khan, Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State Ali Pervaiz Malik and senior officials attended the meeting.

He also called for accelerating efforts to encourage use of renewable energy for power generation. He directed the relevant authorities to immediately shut government-run power units, which had been dysfunctional and those “producing expensive” electricity.

In Pakistan, there was immense capacity to produce solar power, he said, while directing the officials concerned to take measures to tap solar energy potential on a priority basis.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2024