ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Power has directed Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) to provide electricity connections to newly installed streetlights in Municipal Corporation Sukkur without insisting on formal applications, despite objections from the company’s chief executive over procedural and financial constraints.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The directive followed intervention by MNA Nauman Islam Shaikh, who urged the committee to ensure electricity connections for the newly installed streetlights. However, SEPCO CEO Aijaz Ahmed Channa opposed the proposal, arguing that electricity supply could not be initiated without a formal application from the municipal corporation.
He informed the committee that the corporation was already a defaulter on its existing streetlight bills and questioned the demand for new connections without fulfilling the prescribed legal requirements.
The committee also examined broader concerns relating to electricity theft, detection bills, infrastructure security and recovery of outstanding dues by power distribution companies (Discos).
Raising concerns over the theft of electrical equipment in Sindh, MNAs Shaharyar Khan Mahar and Khurshid Ahmed Junejo highlighted the growing incidents of transformer and transmission-wire theft in Larkana and other areas.
Mahar said the theft of electricity infrastructure had become widespread in rural Sindh, with alleged offenders frequently escaping accountability. Junejo also expressed concern over the removal of transformers and transmission wires by thieves.
SEPCO CEO informed the committee that the company had engaged private security guards to protect its infrastructure, alleging that Sindh Police had not provided adequate cooperation despite repeated correspondence with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sindh.
The Power Division was asked to examine the matter and facilitate action against those involved. Additional Secretary Power Division directed the SEPCO chief to provide copies of registered FIRs to the committee so that recommendations could be forwarded to the Sindh Chief Secretary and Ministry of Interior for further action.
Detection Bills and Electricity Theft
On the issue of detection bills, the SEPCO CEO informed the committee that such bills had declined by 20 per cent in August 2026 compared with the corresponding month of 2025 following the introduction of an online system by the Power Information Technology Company (PITC).
Acting Secretary Power Division Imtiaz Shah said all distribution companies had been directed to submit detection-bill claims exclusively through the PITC system to ensure transparency and proper scrutiny.
He added that Discos had also been instructed to disconnect electricity theft-prone areas directly through transformers instead of shutting down entire grids or feeders, thereby protecting consumers who regularly pay their electricity bills from unnecessary power outages.
The committee also proposed abolishing detection charges, observing that ordinary consumers should not be penalised for electricity theft committed by others. Members questioned the practice of making paying consumers bear the financial burden of illegal connections installed by others.
Power Division officials informed the committee that the government was moving towards digitalisation of electricity distribution systems, including the introduction of smart meters to improve monitoring, transparency and control over electricity consumption.
Responding to a question about transformer availability, IESCO CEO Chaudhry Khalid Mehmood said distribution companies had experienced shortages due to the situation in the Gulf region. However, he noted that conditions were gradually normalising and supplies were expected to improve.
Grid Station and Infrastructure Projects
The committee also recommended establishing a 132kV grid station at Padhana, Haripur, in the larger public interest. It stressed the prudent utilisation of available funds, while the concerned MNA offered to explore additional resources.
The Power Division informed members that the proposed grid station could not be completed within the existing allocation and would require a separate funding case supported by proper justification.
Secretary Power Division directed HAZECO to prepare the necessary technical justification for submission to NEPRA, while permissible improvements to the existing transmission and distribution network could be undertaken within available resources. The committee directed the HAZECO CEO to initiate the required follow-up action.
The committee further directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to clarify the status of affected buildings in Sector E-11, Islamabad, and resolve pending No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and Layout Plans (LoPs) that were delaying electricity connections.
On an issue raised by Sheikh Aftab Ahmed, IESCO CEO was directed to expedite land acquisition for the proposed grid station at Hazro and resolve electricity wiring and wire-burning problems in Hazro and Hassan Abdal in consultation with the concerned MNA.
Similarly, the HAZECO CEO was directed to coordinate with MNA Muhammad Idrees to address electricity infrastructure issues in Mansehra and Abbottabad.
Story by Mushtaq Ghumman
