PM takes notice of illegal reinstatement of LESCO officers

ISLAMABAD: In a recent development, the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has taken notice of some serious allegations of corruption against the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) officers.

Supposedly, several officers dismissed for corruption had been reinstated, presumably in consideration for some payment. A high-level committee is investigating these allegations, and they have been given a deadline of 10 days to submit their report.

The committee has also, so far, asked the LESCO management to proffer a response to these allegations which entail not only the reinstatement of the corrupt officers but also the purchase of equipment from the international company.

However, this isn’t where the troubles end for LESCO.  National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has also imposed a fine of Rs10 million on LESCO for failing to observe safety measures. Apparently, LESCO was asked to ensure earthing of 100% of its poles, a recommendation it failed to comply with.

NEPRA has also ordered the company to complete earthing of the remaining steel poles in three months and earthing of PCC poles within a year. It should be noted that similar fines were also imposed on other companies, such as K-Electric, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), and Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO).

The committee has summoned all the senior LESCO officers, including the incumbent chief and chairman board, on the morrow, to appear in Islamabad and answer questions on these allegations.

Energy Division sources stated that the appointment of former Chief Executive Chaudhry Amin was made illegally. One could see how the government is treating these allegations with utmost seriousness and how this investigation unfolds.