Lahore, Liaquat Baloch, Naib Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami and President of the Political National Affairs Standing Committee, has raised serious concerns over the overbilling of 83 crore units to Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) customers. He claims widespread malpractices across Pakistan’s power sector are significantly impacting consumers and the national economy.

According to Jamaat-E-Islami Pakistan, Baloch highlighted a systemic issue with electricity theft and mismanagement that extends beyond LESCO to other distribution companies nationwide. He described a dire scenario where theft by officials, free electricity to government employees, and flawed contracts have led to inflated production costs and high circular debt. Baloch argued that such practices have transformed the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) into a burden on the national exchequer.

Baloch also criticized the government’s financial strategies, mentioning that to meet the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) requirements, electricity prices might be raised to Rs 100 per unit by the end of December, alongside an increase in petrol prices. He referenced data from the previous caretaker government, stating that out of an annual total billing of 3781 billion rupees for electricity, 589 billion rupees worth of electricity is stolen or misused by large entities, including government and semi-government bodies.

The Naib Amir expressed concern over the national approach to privatization and management of state institutions like Pakistan Steel Mills, PIA, and Pakistan Railways, suggesting the formation of a joint national commission involving parliament and judiciary to address these issues comprehensively.

Furthermore, Baloch linked the internal security issues to external threats, citing a recent statement by the Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, about target killings in Lahore, which he attributed to Indian interference. He stressed the importance of a cohesive national strategy against external threats and emphasized the need for government accountability in safeguarding its citizens and enforcing the law consistently across all levels.