On Wednesday, President Dr Arif Alvi issued the Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance 2023, an executive order that makes electricity theft a cognizable offence. The president gave the ordinance under Article 89 of the Constitution.
The presidential decree has amended Section 462 (O) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), 1860. Under the ordinance, police will be bound to file a First Information Report (FIR) on the complaint of a government officer of grade 17 or above and people nominated by chief executive officers of power distribution companies (DISCOs).
Presidency, DISCOs faced difficulties registering FIRs for electricity theft incidents. The ordinance will help control approximately Rs590 billion worth of electricity theft in the energy sector.