Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has intensified its drive for the highest ever recovery of Rs 27011.71 million arrears by initially disconnecting power supply to all chronic defaulters irrespective of their social status.

The newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, Lesco, Sharafat Hussain Sial in his maiden interview with APP here Sunday, said that Rs 20748.24 million and Rs 6263.47 million arrears were pending against private and public sectors, respectively.

Lesco finally warned public and private sector defaulters to clear their arrears forthwith within the stipulated period otherwise face disconnection. He said Lesco following the instructions of Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, has asked all defaulters whether they are government departments or private sector to clear their financial liabilities immediately, otherwise, their power will be switched off without succumbing to any sort of pressure from any quarter.

The chief executive said all SEs, Xens and SDOs had been directed to expedite recovery on a top priority and personally ensure realisation on a daily basis. He said defaulters who failed to clear their outstanding after expiry of a deadline, will be deprived of power supply till the amount is paid.

He said special cells one each at circle, division and sub-division levels had been set up for immediate restoration of power supply in case of payment of arrears.

Sharafat Hussain Sial said overall performance of all officers was being monitored through a computerised network on a daily basis and officers showing better output would be rewarded while who failed to achieve targets would be taken to task.

He categorically warned them if power supply of any defaulter was restored without payment of arrears, concerned SDO would be suspended forthwith. He further warned that officers found guilty of issuing bogus or excessive billing to cover up their distribution losses would also have to face music while meter reader concerned will be suspended.

Executive Engineer, Hujra Shah Mukeem division, Maqsood Ahmad told APP by telephone that as a result of company consumer relationship, we are realizing arrears on a top priority and so far no major amount was pending against any consumer in the whole of the division.