NEPRA Reports Surge in Complaints Against Pakistan’s Power Companies
In Islamabad, Pakistan, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has released a report detailing a significant increase in consumer complaints against power distribution companies over the past three months. A total of 12,938 grievances were registered, with the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) receiving the highest number of complaints at 3,588. This was followed by Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) with 2,302 complaints and Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) with 2,177. K-Electric also faced 1,268 complaints during this period.
On September 23, NEPRA imposed a fine of PKR 10 million on LESCO for failing to implement necessary safety measures. Meanwhile, Mumtaz Hussain Nagri, chairman of the Karakoram National Movement, highlighted the severe electricity crisis in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, where residents receive only two hours of power supply daily. He criticized the lack of subsidies in the region, contrasting it with India’s provision of subsidies on essential items.
Additionally, residents of Karachi have been experiencing severe load-shedding, leading to protests on October 26. The ongoing power and water outages have caused significant disruptions, with power cuts occurring during the daytime.
Doubts Revealed
NEPRA -: NEPRA stands for the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. It is a government organization in Pakistan that oversees and regulates the electricity supply to ensure it is safe and reliable.
LESCO -: LESCO stands for Lahore Electric Supply Company. It is one of the companies in Pakistan responsible for distributing electricity to the city of Lahore and surrounding areas.
FESCO -: FESCO stands for Faisalabad Electric Supply Company. It provides electricity to the city of Faisalabad and nearby regions in Pakistan.
MEPCO -: MEPCO stands for Multan Electric Power Company. It distributes electricity to the city of Multan and its surrounding areas in Pakistan.
PKR -: PKR is the abbreviation for Pakistani Rupee, which is the currency used in Pakistan. It is similar to how we use Indian Rupees (INR) in India.
Gilgit-Baltistan -: Gilgit-Baltistan is a region in the northern part of Pakistan. It is known for its beautiful mountains and is a popular tourist destination.
Subsidies -: Subsidies are financial help given by the government to make things cheaper for people. In this context, it means the government helps reduce the cost of electricity for people in certain areas.
Load-shedding -: Load-shedding is when the electricity supply is intentionally cut off for a period of time to save energy. This usually happens when there is not enough electricity to meet everyone’s needs.
