Summary Property of defaulters can be seized in case of non-payment of electricity bills
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Laws regarding electricity theft have been amended on Tuesday and punishments for electricity thieves have been made harsher, reported Dunya News.
According to the Ministry of Water and Power, now electricity thieves can be taken into non-bailable custody and that too without obtaining prior arrest warrants. The electricity thieves can be imprisoned for seven years and a fine of 100 million rupees can be imposed.
Property of defaulters can be seized in case of non-payment of electricity bills. The ministry has advised the consumers to get their slower and faulty meters changed and pay their dues on time to avoid legal action.
The spokesperson of the ministry said that strict action would be taken against commercial usage of domestic connection and theft.
Also read: Power breakdown hits major cities of Pakistan
Major cities of Pakistan including Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar on Thursday plunged into darkness due to the massive city-wide electricity breakdown.
The power supply was halted to various districts as fire erupted at main transformer of Guddu Thermal Power House in Kashmore while the electricity has also been suspended to Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) after transmission lines in Sheikhupura tripped.
According to initial details, fire fighters are busy in dousing the blaze.
Lesco officials assured to have started inspection into the matter however, they said technical glitch was developed in the power grid that resulted in huge flames. Mangla and Tarbela power stations have also stopped electricity supply.
The outage is affecting large number of cities including Attock, Jhelum, Multan and Faislabad, said officials.
People in various localities are facing hardship because of the widespread breakdown however, restoration work has been launched.
Earlier today, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali informed the National Assembly that construction work on Dasu Dam project will be executed in the next few months.
He said the project cost is 486,093.30 million rupees.
The minister said the World Bank has approved the financing of Stage-I of Dasu Hydropower project.
He also informed the House that work on Munda Dam will also be started by the end of this year. He said the dam is in study phase and its detailed engineering design, preparation of PC-I and tender documents are in progress.
