LAHORE: A Multan Electric Power Company (Mepco) meter reader and an inspector were suspended from service over allegations of misconduct and electricity theft.

Hassan Parwana Sub-Division meter reader Saeed Ahmad and operation circle office meter inspector Abdul Aziz were suspended on a complaint from a consumer that the officials had taken Rs200,000 from him in exchange for providing free electricity.

Both officials have been directed to report to the Shujabad and Jalalpur circles, respectively.

Also, Mepco’s crackdown on electricity theft and defaulters continued in the region. Tteams detected 98 consumers found stealing electricity, got registered cases against 60 people, and imposed fines totaling Rs4.29 million on Sunday.

A team intercepted electricity theft using a remote control system, while a consumer in Gulraiz Colony was caught tampering with the meter body. In Satellite Town Subdivision

Chishtian, an agricultural tubewell was found stealing electricity through direct wires. Mepco recovered Rs35 million from defaulters in just one day. — Staff Reporter