ISLAMABAD: Almost six months after the federal cabinet’s decision, the government has begun inducting officers from intelligence, investigation and law enforcement agencies into Sindh’s ever-bleeding power distribution companies (Discos) to curb power theft, improve recoveries and enhance operational efficiency.
In a notification issued on the weekend, the power division constituted a Disco Support Unit (DSU) for Sukkur Electric Power Company (Sepco) — the first such initiative in Sindh — after prolonged political and bureaucratic resistance. The unit would remain in place for two years.
The notification said that Sepco’s CEO and Sector Commander of civil armed forces would be the director and co-director of the DSU, respectively. Grade 18 and 19 officers from the Federal Investigation Agency, Military Intelligence and Inter-Services Intelligence and Grade 18 nominees of commissioner and deputy inspector general (DIG) would be members of the DSU.
In addition, the DSUs have been empowered to co-opt administrative and police officers in Grade 18 from each division or ranges in the Sukkur service jurisdiction with clearance from relevant commissioners or DIGs.
The federal cabinet approved the creation of DSUs in all the Discos in July last year, starting with Multan and Sukkur, and then gradually moving to other electricity companies to assist the power division in its campaign against power theft and poor recoveries.
A senior government official told Dawn that DSU in Multan was activated almost a month after the cabinet decision but could not be operationalised for Sukkur due to multiple challenges.
He said the experience in DSU Multan was generally encouraging, notwithstanding some complaints. The model was thus replicated one after the other in Lahore and Quetta electric supply companies as well.
“After a lot of background engagements, we have been able to secure support for the creation of a DSU in Sepco as well,” the official said.
