PAC Takes Action on Trillions in Unpaid Electricity Dues

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called for the details of the top 300 electricity defaulters as public and private entities collectively owe trillions of rupees to power distribution companies (DISCOs). The inability to recover these dues has led to a staggering Rs877 billion loss for the national exchequer.

During a PAC meeting chaired by MNA Junaid Akbar, audit objections concerning the Power Division for the fiscal year 2023-24 were discussed. Officials revealed that DISCOs had accumulated Rs877 billion in pending dues during 2022-23, with substantial unpaid amounts spread across various power companies.

According to the audit report, FESCO has 513 defaulters with Rs2.47 billion in arrears, while HESCO faces unpaid dues of Rs44.46 billion from 5,900 consumers. LESCO is owed Rs16.1 billion by 3,736 consumers, and PESCO has 824 defaulters with a total of Rs8.6 billion in arrears. QESCO’s dues are the most significant, with Rs603.35 billion owed by 2,428 consumers.

Other major defaulters include SEPCO, with Rs119.83 billion owed by 342 consumers, TESCO, which faces Rs6.17 billion in unpaid dues from 146 consumers, and IESCO, where 142 consumers owe Rs200 million. The committee was informed that 118 letters have been sent to the Power Division regarding recovery, but QESCO remains the most challenging case.

Committee member Khalid Magsi expressed concerns about the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan, emphasizing that movement within the province has become nearly impossible and suggesting that BLA operatives move unhindered. He added that collecting dues in Quetta has become infeasible, claiming that the Balochistan government is one of the largest defaulters.

The Power Division Secretary assured the committee that DISCOs had submitted recovery plans for Rs162 billion, with personal oversight promised. The PAC chairman instructed the auditor general to monitor the recovery progress by the next session and mandated two Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC) meetings per month, along with monthly updates on collections.

The committee also examined the failure of DISCOs to replace outdated electrical infrastructure and noted unpaid dues exceeding Rs501 billion. It was further disclosed that DISCO officers had been receiving free electricity, prompting the Power Secretary to announce the discontinuation of this facility