Islamabad, Sep 6 (EFE).- The Pakistani government on Wednesday announced a crackdown on electricity theft in the country in a bid to reduce power bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, protests erupted across the country with electricity consumers burning copies of their bills and vowing not to pay them alleging they were inflated and beyond their means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Saturday, a partial shutter-down strike was observed in different parts of the country, prompting the government to take measures to reduce power bills without violating the terms set by the International Monetary Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pakistan is currently going through a $3 billion Stand-by Arrangement with the international lender on the condition of increasing basic power tariffs and imposing extra taxes with reduced subsidies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Energy Minister Muhammed Ali announced the government’s strategy to crackdown on power theft and reduce bills without compromising on the IMF conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn every area, there are different levels of theft and there are different percentages of recovery [of bills],\u201d he said, adding that the annual loss due to electricity theft and failure to get all of the bills paid amounted to 589 billion rupees ($1.9 billion).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stressed that several domestic consumers steal electricity, while several others do not pay their bills in the South Asian country of 241 million people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister clarified that because of the electricity theft and refusal by some consumers to pay bills, the loss gets transferred to those who dutifully pay their bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUntil this is stopped, electricity prices will not come down,\u201d Ali explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He announced that caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar had issued directives to end electricity theft and ensure recovery of unpaid bills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister disclosed that some officials also facilitate the theft of electricity for bribes, and that action would be taken against them, including even dismissal from service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further said the government would constitute a task force at the provincial level for the crackdown and his ministry would monitor the operations from the capital, Islamabad. EFE <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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