Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has raised concerns about the delays in appointing Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) for electricity distribution companies (Discos) and has urged authorities to complete the process promptly. Chairing a review meeting on Saturday, the Prime Minister stressed the need for transparency and merit-based recruitment in selecting CEOs for Discos.
The meeting focused on the performance of major Discos, including Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco), and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco). PM Shehbaz directed that all efforts be made to achieve the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) targets and emphasized the swift installation of smart meters to improve the transparency of the billing system.
The Prime Minister warned that any instances of overbilling would not be tolerated, and strict action would be taken against officers involved in such practices. He also called for strong measures to prevent electricity theft.
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Regarding the performance of Lesco, Pesco, and Fesco, it was reported that recovery rates for the fiscal year 2024-25 were as follows: Lesco at 96.82%, Pesco at 87.98%, and Fesco at 97.57%. Transmission and distribution losses for the same period were reported as 13.04% for Lesco, 33% for Pesco, and 6.01% for Fesco.
Progress on smart meter installations was also discussed. Lesco has installed 49,470 of the 223,365 smart meters it is targeting, while Pesco has installed 51,173 out of 152,559, and Fesco has installed 11,276 of its 192,311-meter goal.
The meeting also covered customer service improvements, with all Discos offering accessible communication channels for complaints, including call centers and web services.
Federal ministers, senior officials, and the Prime Minister’s Coordinator were present at the meeting to discuss these issues.
