ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said overbilling by power utility companies is `unacceptable` and called for the installation of smart meters to measure electricity use accurately.

These meters, he said, would ensure transpar-ency in the billing system and called for concrete steps to prevent electricity theft.

The prime minister issued these directives while chairing a review meeting on the performance of power distribution companies (Discos).

The meeting discussed the affairs of Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco), said a press release issued bythe media wing of PM Office.

The premier vowed that strict action would be taken against officers involved in overbilling.

He expressed concern over the delay in the appointment of chief executive officers of Discos and said recruitment should be done promptly and transparently. The recruitment of human resources in distribution companies should be merit-based, he further added.

PM Shehbaz furthersaid that all available resources should be utilised to meet the targets of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority.

The meeting was informed that the recovery rate, one of the targets set by the power regulator, has been improved.

The recovery rate in fiscal 2025 up to November was 96.82pc for Lesco,87.98pcfor Pesco and 97.57pc for Fesco.

The transmission and distribution losses in the same period have been reduced to 13.04pc for Lesco,33peforPesco and 6.1pc for Fesco.

The meeting was apprised that Lesco had installed 49,470 three-phase smart meters out of the total 223,365.

Pesco has moved 51,173 out of 152,559 connections to smart meters. The number for Fesco stood at 11,276 out of 192,311.

The three power utility companies were also facilitating consumers in addressing their complaints.

They are offering these services via call centres, emails, websites, interactive voice response systems and Nepra`s mobile and web services.Moreover, free access to the 118 helpline from all mobile operators was being ensured for complaints related to electricity transmission.

Lesco managed to address 99.2pc of complaints it received, Pesco 99.9pc and Fesco 99.7pc, the meeting was told.

Economic Affairs Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Power Division Minister Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari, State Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, State Minister for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, Prime Minister`s Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal and senior government officials attended the meeting.-APP