ICCI calls for elimination of power theft to achieve sustainable growth

ISLAMABAD: President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Ahmed Hassan Moughal here on Friday said the uninterrupted power supply to business and industry was the basic requirement for sustainable economic growth of Pakistan.

He informed that during 2017-18, Pakistan’s economy suffered loss of over Rs. 53 billion due to power theft, which was cause of great concerns.

The government should utilize latest technology to eliminate power theft that would help in saving the industry and economy from further losses, he said in a statement issued by the ICCI.

The President ICCI said the Senate Standing Committee on Power was recently informed about the filing of cases against 20,000 employees of several Discos who were involved in abetting power theft.

He stressed that strong action should be taken against the employees of Discos who were involved in promoting their self-interests at the cost of Pakistan’s national interests.

Ahmed Hassan Moughal emphasized that government should introduce digital meters and smart cables across the country and for this purpose, provide incentives to Discos that would help in reducing power theft in Pakistan.

Senior Vice President ICCI, Rafat Farid and Iftikhar Vice President Anwar Sethi said that transmission and distribution (T&D) losses in Pakistan were ranging from 18 to 38 percent that were very high as compared to the benchmark T&D losses of around 10 percent in advanced countries. They said that high T&D losses have contributed Rs.187 billion over the past five years to the overall circular debt which should be a cause of concern for the policymakers. They stressed that the government should devise a comprehensive strategy for Discos to recover all outstanding receivables and disconnect connections of those persons/entities who were not regular in payment of bills.It will improve power supply to trade and industry leading to early recovery of the economy.