FIA conducts massive raids against power theft, overbilling

ISLAMABAD: Continuing countrywide crackdown against the mafia involved in overcharging electricity beaks to cover monthly electricity loses and to conceal the thefts in their relevant areas, the FIA conducted massive raids on the information provided by the intelligence agencies and marked overbilling of millions of rupees added in the monthly charges in the electricity bills, a spokesman of the FIA said, adding, illegal direct connections, tampering with meters, and electricity theft were detected at these locations.

The clampdown against the people engaged in the overbilling and electricity theft, has surged on the directives from the Federal interior minister, the FIA maintained. The Anti-Corruption Circle (Anti-Electricity Theft and overbilling Cell) of the FIA Peshawar Zone conducted 12 raids in different industrial and residential localities falling in the jurisdiction of Peshawar Zone. The raids were conducted by the Anti-Corruption Circle Peshawar and Composite Circle Abbottabad. Initial investigations revealed direct tampering with mainlines and meters, as well as ongoing electricity theft.

Raids were conducted at various locations including Pabbi Subdivision District Nowshera, Subzi Mandi Inqilabi Road Peshawar, and Haripur, Abbottabad, and Mansehra and detected illegal direct connections, tampering with meters, and electricity theft cases.

During the operations, illegal connections were disconnected, and recoveries of outstanding bills totaling more than Rs1.1 million were made from 20 consumers. Cables and other equipment used for the supply of illegally obtained electricity were also confiscated. Electricity theft was causing millions of rupees in losses to the national exchequer. Additionally, an inspection of 102 electricity meters was conducted in areas including Services Colony, Ameenabad, Regi Lalma Peshawar, Haripur, and Abbottabad. During the inspection, overbilling was reported on 18 connections, involving 27,721 units. Special raiding teams have been formed by the FIA in all circles. Efforts are underway to apprehend individuals involved in electricity theft. The raid teams are conducting joint operations with relevant authorities.

All means are being employed for the arrest of suspects, the spokesman said and added that the top bosses of the FIA directed entire staff engaged in the crackdown against the elements involved in electricity thefts and overbilling, not to succumb to any pressure from any quarter and keep fighting against the anti-state elements.