The PAC of Pakistan found huge financial problems in the power sector recently. Defaulters from nine electricity distribution companies (Discos) have dues amounting to over Rs 877 billion for the fiscal year, 2022-23. During a meeting of the PAC, audit officials revealed that 118 letters had been sent to the Power Division to recover these dues. Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) has the maximum share of around Rs 60 billion.
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While Rs 162 billion has been recovered so far from defaulters, things are grim. The PAC called for a list of the 300 most involved defaulters to speed up recovery. Trouble spots had developed in Balochistan that hampered recovery efforts as law and order conditions had worsened. Committee members were also visibly worried about the government’s role, with Balochistan itself being a major defaulter.
The PAC also mentioned rampant corruption in the sector and revealed that over Rs 1 billion had been siphoned off in 337 cases involving Disco officers and officials. Investigations into these cases are still ongoing, some of which have been referred to the FIA and NAB.
The committee further pointed out that erroneous meter readings and billing had led to refunds of over Rs 21 billion to consumers yet no action was undertaken against the responsible staff. Furthermore, it was discussed that Disco employees received free electricity, but that matter was still pending in court.
The Public Accounts Committee blames the power sector for taking the economy of Pakistan to the very borders of collapse, insisting that reforms and accountability are urgently needed to tackle these emerging issues of finance and corruption.
