Prolonged outages: LESCO probe uncovers irregularities by officials

ISLAMABAD: A formal inquiry conducted by Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has uncovered serious irregularities, including delays in restoration of electricity supply, alleged misconduct by officials, and possible unauthorized involvement of private individuals in the repair of a damaged transformer in Village No. 27 Dholan, under Pattoki Rural Sub-Division.

The inquiry was initiated following a complaint posted on social media platform X by Federal Minister for Defence and former Minister for Water and Power, Khawaja Muhammad Asif. The complaint highlighted prolonged power outages and alleged that local residents were forced to arrange funds for the repair or replacement of a faulty transformer due to inaction by LESCO officials.

According to the inquiry report prepared by the Directorate of Surveillance & Investigation, the probe was launched on the directives of the competent authority after the issue gained attention at the highest level. The complaint alleged that consumers were compelled to bear repair costs amid delays in response from the utility.

The report revealed that the failure of a transformer led to suspension of electricity supply, and despite at least nine complaints lodged through the Customer Complaint Management System (CCMS), restoration was not carried out within the timeframe prescribed under departmental Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The inquiry examined whether there was undue delay in restoration, whether money was collected from consumers, and whether private individuals were involved in handling or repairing LESCO-owned equipment.

Statements from key officials, including the Superintending Engineer (SE) Kasur Circle, Executive Engineer (XEN) Phool Nagar Division, and Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Pattoki Rural, were recorded. Testimonies from local residents were also obtained, alongside a review of complaint logs, social media evidence, and operational records.

Preliminary findings confirmed lapses in timely response by field staff, contributing to prolonged outages. The report also investigated allegations that residents were asked to arrange funds for repairing a 200 KVA transformer, raising concerns about violations of departmental rules governing public dealings and financial conduct.

Furthermore, the inquiry looked into the possible involvement of unauthorized private individuals in the repair process—an act that, if confirmed, would constitute a serious breach of operational protocols and safety standards.

The investigation also explored repeated technical failures of the transformer, assessing whether underlying technical issues contributed to the damage.

The report has been forwarded to the Human Resources Directorate for further action, including determination of responsibility and initiation of disciplinary proceedings against officials found guilty of negligence or misconduct.

Following directions from the Power Division for strict action, LESCO has suspended at least three employees allegedly involved in collecting Rs 80,000 from consumers for transformer repair.

The case underscores persistent governance and service delivery challenges in the power distribution sector, particularly in addressing consumer complaints and enforcing accountability among field staff.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026