LAHORE (Zuaib Butt)
The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has uncovered a large-scale electricity theft operation in Basirpur Sub-Division, where power was being illegally supplied through a concealed underground cable network.
According to a LESCO spokesperson, the operation was carried out in village Wana Wala under the directions of Okara Circle Superintendent Engineer Syed Qurban Ali Shah and Hujra Division XEN Engineer Azhar Ali Pirzada. During an inspection, SDO Basirpur Engineer Asif Suhail and his team detected suspicious activity and launched a detailed investigation with the assistance of Punjab Police.
The operation revealed a tampered PCC pole connected to all three phases of an LT line, providing an illegal three-phase underground direct connection. Following excavation, officials discovered that an unauthorized underground network had been installed across the village.
The illegal setup was supplying electricity to an agricultural tube well and approximately 20 residential connections. All unauthorized cables were removed, power supply was disconnected, and legal proceedings have been initiated against the individuals involved.
LESCO Chief Executive Officer Engineer Muhammad Ramzan Butt described the case as a highly organized and concealed method of electricity theft that was exposed after extensive field investigations. He praised the joint efforts of LESCO officials, field staff, and Punjab Police, reiterating that indiscriminate action against electricity theft will continue across the LESCO region.
