Day: March 4, 2026

LAHORE: The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) intensified its efforts against electricity theft in February, arresting 24 individuals, levying fines exceeding Rs74.9 million, and charging over two million units to offenders. According to LESCO headquarters, a total of 1,796 cases of electricity theft were detected across all operational circles during the month. Authorities submitted 1,760 FIR requests to police stations, resulting in 547 formal case registrations and 24 arrests. Enforcement operations also recovered over Rs15.8 million during this period. Circle-wise breakdown revealed that the Central Circle recorded the highest number…

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ISLAMABAD: The federal government is finalising Pakistan’s first-ever Power Sector Indigenisation Plan (PSIP) 2026–35, a comprehensive roadmap aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing in the power sector, reducing reliance on imports and positioning the country as a competitive player in regional energy supply chains. The plan focuses on the strategic localisation of Electrical Power Equipment (EPE) — including transformers, switchgear, cables, meters and control systems — which are currently imported in large volumes. Phased Strategy for Localisation Drawing lessons from countries such as China, India and Turkey, the framework proposes a…

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ISLAMABAD: The federal government has activated an emergency energy contingency plan to ensure uninterrupted fuel and gas supplies amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region, while Pakistan’s trade deficit widened by 25% to $25 billion during the first eight months of the current fiscal year. A ministerial committee tasked with maintaining smooth petroleum supplies briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday after Qatar signalled it may not be able to supply scheduled liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes due to the ongoing Gulf conflict. The prime minister authorised the committee—headed by…

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