By Our CorrespondentĀ
LAHORE: Former Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) chief executive officer Engr. Shahid Haider has outlined measures he says were taken to address electricity overbilling during his tenure, defended decisions in employee disciplinary cases and sought reconsideration of his removal from service after retirement.
In a written representation dated October 12, 2026, addressed to the LESCO Board chairman, Haider detailed corrective measures, recovery efforts and billing adjustments. He also requested a review of his case and the subsequent removal of 10 employees whose disciplinary cases had previously been reconsidered.
Says overbilling was addressed
Haider said LESCO began prioritising overbilling from July 2023, directing field formations to bill consumers according to actual electricity consumption.
According to his representation, internal audits were conducted, billing review committees established and written instructions issued to Superintending Engineers and other field officers. He said the instructions warned that overbilling would not be tolerated and that violations could lead to disciplinary and legal action.
āBy the end of the financial year the over-billing had been brought to zero, and from the end of FY 2023-24 until my retirement no over-billing was done,ā Haider stated.
He maintained that overbilling predated his tenure and said the measures introduced under his leadership were intended to address the problem.
Cites Rs81.5 billion in credit adjustments
Haider cited credit adjustments involving 1,528.12 million electricity units, valued at approximately Rs81.51 billion, during financial year 2023-24. His representation also identified 277.92 million units, worth around Rs16.23 billion, in the category above 70 kilowatts.
He said 26,930 overbilling cases involving 320.3 million units, valued at approximately Rs16.21 billion, were withdrawn in April 2024. A further 10,022 cases involving 120 million units were scheduled for adjustment in May 2024, according to his letter.
To illustrate that billing adjustments had also been recorded before his tenure, Haider cited figures of approximately Rs24.86 billion for FY 2016-17 and Rs20.24 billion for FY 2017-18.
These figures reflect the adjustments and historical comparisons cited in Haiderās representation.
Outlines recovery and enforcement measures
Haider said LESCO recovered more than Rs808 billion between July 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, while more than 290,000 electricity meters were replaced during the same period.
He also referred to disciplinary action in suspected billing irregularities and correspondence with law enforcement agencies concerning electricity theft and suspected meter-software manipulation.
According to his representation, LESCOās Strategic Planning and IT Steering Committee discussed a 17-month plan on April 26, 2024, to address billing adjustments and reduce transmission and distribution losses. The plan envisaged phased adjustments and regular progress reports to the Board of Directors, he said.
Defends employee reinstatement decisions
Haider also explained decisions involving employees who were reinstated or received reduced penalties during his tenure.
According to his representation, 11 employees were reinstated or had their penalties reduced between August 2022 and June 2024. He said he decided 10 cases, while one was decided by the then chief executive officer.
Haider maintained that the cases were processed under the Pakistan WAPDA Employees (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 1978, and assessed individually through the Human Resource Directorate.
He said two cases were reconsidered following directions from the Ministry of Energy and the Lahore High Court, respectively. He has requested a review of the subsequent removal of 10 employees, arguing that their cases had already been considered through the relevant departmental procedures.
Seeks review of disciplinary proceedings
Haider said he received a letter seeking an explanation on May 7, 2025, after his retirement. He maintained that he requested the inquiry reportās attachments from the Ministry of Energyās Power Division and sought relevant records from LESCO management but did not receive the documents.
He said access to the records was necessary to respond fully to the allegations. According to his representation, an office order subsequently removed him from service and affected his pension-related benefits.
Haider has asked the LESCO Board to reconsider the circumstances surrounding his removal, along with the disciplinary decisions involving the employees identified in his submission.
His representation sets out his account of the measures taken against overbilling, the procedures followed in employee cases and the grounds on which he seeks reconsideration.
