ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recovered more than $370 million in a nationwide campaign against electricity theft, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
The South Asian nation’s power sector has been plagued by high rates of electricity theft and distribution losses, resulting in accumulating debts across the production chain.
In March, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that authorities had launched a “massive crackdown” against electricity and gas theft, aiming for fair distribution of utilities and access to all citizens.
“In a countrywide campaign against power pilferage, 105 billion ($377 million) rupees have been recovered,” the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported. “More than 83,000 individuals involved in power theft have been arrested.”
From June 30 till July 17, authorities collected more than Rs1 billion from power pilferers in Punjab’s Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad and Multan cities as well as in the federal capital of Islamabad, according to the report.
Another Rs430 million were recovered from Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Quetta during this period. This was a result of actions taken by the government to revive the country’s economy and bring people out of the power crisis.
Relevant institutions were determined to continue their operations until complete elimination of power theft from the country, it added.
The report comes days after Pakistan reached a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new $7 billion loan.
Energy sector debt has already been a main issue that the IMF has highlighted in tackling Pakistan’s fiscal deficit, telling the South Asian nation to prevent further accumulation of circular debt in its power sector arising from subsidies and unpaid bills.
The lender has asked to implement reforms to reduce costs by improving electricity transmission and distribution, moving captive power into the grid, improving governance, and combating theft.
Pakistan recovered over $370 million in nationwide campaign against power theft — report
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Pakistan recovered over $370 million in nationwide campaign against power theft — report
- The South Asian nation’s power sector has long been plagued by high rates of electricity theft and distribution losses
- Authorities have arrested 83,000 individuals for involvement in power theft since the announcement of a campaign this year
Pakistan forecasts favorable weather for Basant as kite festival returns under safety watch
- The government in Pakistan’s Punjab has allowed the three-day spring cultural festival on Feb. 6-8 ending an 18-year ban on kite flying
- Met Office says mainly dry weather is expected in Lahore during the festival, with light westerly winds blowing at 10–15kilometer per hour
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Tuesday forecast favorable weather conditions on Feb. 6-8 when the Basant kite-flying festival is scheduled to take place in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore.
The government in Pakistan’s Punjab province has allowed three-day Basant celebration, a traditional spring cultural festival marked by kite flying, from Feb. 6 to Feb. 8 under the Punjab Kite Flying Act 2025, ending an 18-year ban on kite flying due to deadly accidents.
Preparations have been underway in full swing in Lahore, the cultural hub of Pakistan, to mark the festival, with authorities enforcing strict limits on kite materials and imagery ahead of the three-day festival.
The PMD on Tuesday shared a weather outlook for Basant and said mainly dry weather with clear skies was expected in Lahore on Feb. 6-7, whereas dry weather with few cloudy conditions is likely to prevail in the city on Feb. 8.
“Light Westerly/ Northwesterly winds are likely to blow (10 – 15 km/hr), suitable for safe kite flying,” the PMD said in a statement.
The festival, banned after dozens of people were killed or injured by metallic or chemically coated strings, is returning to Lahore under an extensive safety plan.
Authorities have distributed 1 million safety rods among motorcyclists through 100 designated safety points across Lahore, with spending on the initiative crossing Rs110 million ($392,000), according to local media reports.
To enforce regulations and manage traffic flow, around 100 road safety camps have been set up within these zones, staffed by teams from the district administration, traffic police and rescue services. In addition, the Punjab government has launched a free shuttle service to reduce traffic congestion and promote safer travel via 695 buses deployed across Lahore.
“PMD advises kite flyers to exercise caution while flying kites, especially near electric lines and open roads,” the PMD statement read.
