Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the immediate suspension of officials within power distribution companies accused of fraudulently overcharging consumers on their electricity bills. This directive was issued during a meeting focused on reforms in the Power Sector and the Solarization initiative.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Prime Minister ordered the Federal Investigation Agency to initiate an inquiry against the accused officials, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency within the sector. He emphasized that the malpractice of adding excess units to consumer bills must be corrected, especially affecting those consuming less than two hundred units, who are wrongfully categorized and overcharged.

In response to the energy challenges facing Pakistan, Sharif also pushed for the advancement of electricity generation from renewable sources, stressing the importance of moving away from expensive, imported fuel-dependent power generation. He instructed the Power Division to shut down inefficient state-owned power plants that rely heavily on imported fuel and to prioritize the development of solar energy to leverage Pakistan’s potential for sustainable energy production.