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KARACHI: The Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) has obtained a fatwa (religious decree) from ulema against electricity theft, which it says is costing it billions of rupees a year.
The utility said it had obtained the fatwa from 12 top ulema who declared power theft a 'sin'.
'It is astonishing and disturbing to find that certain segments of our society do not even consider theft of electricity theft, let alone immoral or illegal,' said KESC spokesperson Ayesha Eirabie.
Typically, people steal electricity by hooking up a wire (locally known as Kunda) to overhead electricity cables, siphoning off power without paying for it. Another way people steal power is to slow down their electricity meters.
The KESC, in which Dubai-based firm Abraaj Capital has a controlling stake, supplies electricity to Karachi and some parts of the neighbouring Balochistan province.
Eirabie said electricity theft was causing the KESC losses of billions of rupees a year. 'Most of the people who steal electricity can afford to pay for it but they choose not to,' she said, adding, 'its very important for such people to know that electricity theft is illegal, immoral and not acceptable as is any other form of theft.'
According to the fatwa, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, 'the illicit use of any commodity is a sin and as in this case, the organisation producing electricity represented many people, its use without permission and pay makes it an even bigger sin. Legal action against such people committing electricity theft is fair.'
Like the rest of Pakistan, Karachi has been facing chronic electricity problems. Power consumers frustrated by load-shedding and breakdowns often vent their anger by blocking roads, burning tyres and throwing stones in street demonstrations.Reuters
Shortfall persists
The KESC on Monday reported a shortfall of 178 megawatts, saying that 68 megawatts were produced through the utilitys own power plant to reduce the shortfall to 110 megawatts and it carried out a minimum load-shedding accordingly, PPI adds.
Chief operating officer (distribution) Jan Abbas Zaidi said in a statement that the total demand in the city at 2pm on Monday was 2,302MW as against the supply of 2,124MW. However, with the coming back of the KESCs own power plant, CCP, the shortfall was reduced to 110MW, he added, and stated that the utility was currently receiving 260MMCFD of gas.
He said that during the past 24 hours, 31 faults occurred and 18 of them related to main cables. The maintenance staff repaired 32 faults that included a few pending cases.
The affected sectors were an overhead main cable in Gadap, rotational dumping in North Karachi, a PMT in Sharifabad, Shah Latif Town Landhi, Defence-Malir circuit and a feeder at Dhabeji, he said, adding that work was under way at these places and expected to be completed by the night.
The sites where faults had already been rectified were a 73-kVA PMT in Awami Colony of the Korangi Industrial Area, Razzakabad, Gulshan-i-Hadeed, Fida Hussain Shaikha Road in Lyari, PIA Society and Block Nos.8 and 9 of Federal B Area, he said.
Training initiated
According to the statement, the KESC in cooperation with the Institute of Engineers, has initiated a programme to impart technical training to its skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled employees.
The power utility is looking into various options for the laying of underground cables without digging roads. Boring is one option.
With reference to the arrangements made to meet any crises during the monsoon, the statement said the KESC had already appealed to citizens to report any incident of fallen wires immediately to the KESC and keep away from the wires.
Acknowledging voltage fluctuation, it said reinforcement of infrastructure could not take place without a feedback from consumers about their sanctioned load and the actual connection load.
DAWN.COM | Metropolitan | KESC obtains fatwa against power theft
The utility said it had obtained the fatwa from 12 top ulema who declared power theft a 'sin'.
'It is astonishing and disturbing to find that certain segments of our society do not even consider theft of electricity theft, let alone immoral or illegal,' said KESC spokesperson Ayesha Eirabie.
Typically, people steal electricity by hooking up a wire (locally known as Kunda) to overhead electricity cables, siphoning off power without paying for it. Another way people steal power is to slow down their electricity meters.
The KESC, in which Dubai-based firm Abraaj Capital has a controlling stake, supplies electricity to Karachi and some parts of the neighbouring Balochistan province.
Eirabie said electricity theft was causing the KESC losses of billions of rupees a year. 'Most of the people who steal electricity can afford to pay for it but they choose not to,' she said, adding, 'its very important for such people to know that electricity theft is illegal, immoral and not acceptable as is any other form of theft.'
According to the fatwa, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, 'the illicit use of any commodity is a sin and as in this case, the organisation producing electricity represented many people, its use without permission and pay makes it an even bigger sin. Legal action against such people committing electricity theft is fair.'
Like the rest of Pakistan, Karachi has been facing chronic electricity problems. Power consumers frustrated by load-shedding and breakdowns often vent their anger by blocking roads, burning tyres and throwing stones in street demonstrations.Reuters
Shortfall persists
The KESC on Monday reported a shortfall of 178 megawatts, saying that 68 megawatts were produced through the utilitys own power plant to reduce the shortfall to 110 megawatts and it carried out a minimum load-shedding accordingly, PPI adds.
Chief operating officer (distribution) Jan Abbas Zaidi said in a statement that the total demand in the city at 2pm on Monday was 2,302MW as against the supply of 2,124MW. However, with the coming back of the KESCs own power plant, CCP, the shortfall was reduced to 110MW, he added, and stated that the utility was currently receiving 260MMCFD of gas.
He said that during the past 24 hours, 31 faults occurred and 18 of them related to main cables. The maintenance staff repaired 32 faults that included a few pending cases.
The affected sectors were an overhead main cable in Gadap, rotational dumping in North Karachi, a PMT in Sharifabad, Shah Latif Town Landhi, Defence-Malir circuit and a feeder at Dhabeji, he said, adding that work was under way at these places and expected to be completed by the night.
The sites where faults had already been rectified were a 73-kVA PMT in Awami Colony of the Korangi Industrial Area, Razzakabad, Gulshan-i-Hadeed, Fida Hussain Shaikha Road in Lyari, PIA Society and Block Nos.8 and 9 of Federal B Area, he said.
Training initiated
According to the statement, the KESC in cooperation with the Institute of Engineers, has initiated a programme to impart technical training to its skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled employees.
The power utility is looking into various options for the laying of underground cables without digging roads. Boring is one option.
With reference to the arrangements made to meet any crises during the monsoon, the statement said the KESC had already appealed to citizens to report any incident of fallen wires immediately to the KESC and keep away from the wires.
Acknowledging voltage fluctuation, it said reinforcement of infrastructure could not take place without a feedback from consumers about their sanctioned load and the actual connection load.
DAWN.COM | Metropolitan | KESC obtains fatwa against power theft
