LAHORE: In what has been described as long-awaited good news for the public, the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has abolished the decades-old facility of free electricity units for its senior officers, bringing them under the same billing system as ordinary citizens.
According to media reports, officers in grades 18 to 20 — who for years enjoyed thousands of free units annually — have now started receiving electricity bills. For the first time in 30 years, officials said, nearly half of the monthly salary of these officers is being consumed by electricity charges.
LESCO sources disclosed that grade 18 officers previously received 6,000 free units annually, grade 19 officers 8,000 units, and grade 20 officers 10,000 units. The decision to abolish the facility was extended to officers of other distribution companies (DISCOs) as well. However, several DISCOs managed to restore the benefit after obtaining restraining orders from courts.
LESCO officials, while terming such restoration “illegal,” argued that all benefits are already included in salaries.
“The free electricity facility should be abolished across all institutions of the country. The Ministry of Energy must announce a uniform policy for all companies,” a senior official said.
It is pertinent to mention here that Public circles have long demanded the withdrawal of such privileges, viewing them as discriminatory at a time when ordinary consumers face mounting electricity bills. The move by LESCO is being seen as a step toward equity and accountability in the power sector.
