Pakistan orders technical audit of DISCOs to combat power theft

The Pakistani government has ordered a comprehensive technical audit of all electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) to address widespread power theft, distribution losses, and commercial inefficiencies. The initiative was decided by a special committee established under a Prime Minister's directive to investigate inefficiencies within the electricity sector.

Co-chaired by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema and Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, the committee aims to identify the scale and geographical concentration of losses. The audit intends to target grid inefficiencies without increasing the financial burden on consumers through overbilling. To ensure transparency, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication will facilitate the audit process.

The government plans to issue an Expression of Interest shortly to hire qualified technical experts for the task. Terms of Reference for the audit are expected to be finalized by next week, defining the scope for assessing DISCO operations and theft patterns.