The federal government on Thursday urged all four provincial governments to settle their outstanding electricity dues totaling Rs150 billion to prevent power cuts and mitigate financial losses to the national economy.
Sindh tops the list with outstanding electricity dues amounting to Rs59.68 billion as of September, followed by Balochistan at Rs39.6 billion and Punjab at Rs38.01 billion. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) recorded the lowest payables at Rs8.88 billion.
In letters addressed to the chief ministers of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Power Minister Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari emphasized the critical need for immediate intervention to resolve the mounting liabilities.
The Sindh government owes Rs38.16 billion to Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) and Rs21.5 billion to Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (Hesco). Similarly, Quetta Electric Supply Company (Qesco) faces the highest unpaid bills from public sector consumers in Balochistan.
In Punjab, five Discos are collectively owed Rs38.01 billion, with Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) bearing the largest burden at Rs17.27 billion. It is followed by Rs9.90 billion owed to Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco). Faisalabad, Islamabad, and Gujranwala-based Discos are owed Rs5.05 billion, Rs2.93 billion, and Rs2.84 billion, respectively.
In KP, the government owes Rs6.75 billion to Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and Rs2.30 billion to Tribal Electric Supply Company (Tesco).
Leghari warned that without the timely clearance of dues, it would become increasingly difficult for power distribution companies (Discos) to maintain uninterrupted electricity supply, exacerbating the financial strain on the federal government and worsening the circular debt crisis.
Leghari highlighted ongoing federal initiatives to improve the performance of power utility companies, including efforts to boost financial stability through increased revenue generation and stricter anti-theft measures.Â
However, he stressed that recovering dues from provincial government departments was crucial to achieving these reforms. The power division and Disco management, he said, are ready to assist with bill reconciliations and provide necessary clarifications to facilitate payments.
