In an interesting development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) leaders strongly criticised the Criminal Bill 2024 for criminalizing electricity theft nationwide.
According to PPP and PTI Members of the National Assembly (MNAs), the public would be humiliated if the bill were passed and implemented.
PTI MNA Zartaj Gul argued that the government should take action against the “big thieves” first, saying, “We oppose this cruel bill [electricity theft], and the public should not be handcuffed without reason.”
Meanwhile, PPP leader Abdul Qadir Patel said that most electricity meters in Karachi are not registered in one person’s name, saying, “Electric companies should fix themselves first, we cannot pass this bill without reforms. There is no system, no checks and balances. We will not pass this under any circumstances, we will not let anyone be handcuffed.”
PPP’s Nabil Gabol also protested against the bill, saying, “There is load shedding for 18 hours in Karachi, and if two people steal electricity, but K-Electric cuts off electricity to the entire area.”
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that electricity is being stolen, arguing, “We have to stop the theft. There should be no point scoring on this issue.”
Federal Minister of Energy Awais Leghari revealed last year that the country was suffering a loss worth a whopping Rs600 billion a year due to power theft.
He said illegal transformers were set up; therefore, the government could not provide electricity to them as those feeders were not even on meters.
“Electricity theft causes a loss of Rs600 billion annually. We will stop it at any cost and not bow to political pressure or threats,” he said.
The minister said there was an annual loss of Rs137 billion in the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and the tribal areas.
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