ISLAMABAD: Power distribution companies have referred cases regarding the recovery of Rs24.6 billion from major defaulters to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

This was disclosed before the Public Accounts Committee on Thursday by Ministry of Water and Power secretary Mohammad Younus Dagha. An audit official briefed the committee that the amount was recoverable from defaulters in the government and private sectors.

He said PEPCO was facing financial difficulties in discharging its obligations toward power sector companies (PSCs) and independent power producers (IPPS). He added that power distribution companies FESCO, HESCO, LESCO, PESCO, OESCO, SEPCO and TESCO were not able to recover the amount.

Mr Dagha informed PAC that the ministry had asked NAB to assist the distribution companies in order to ensure the amount`s recovery. He claimed that the companies had made excellent recoveries from last year`s electricity bills.

PAC also took up the audit para regarding losses due to non-recovery from consumers of kunda connections, which are worth Rs595million.

MNA Junaid Anwar Chaudhry asked Mr Dagha whether he had taken action against officials involved in electricity theft, saying this caused great losses to the national exchequer.

Mr Dagha claimed the ministry had initiated action against 55 such gazette officers. He said a few of these officials were removed from service and suspended.