NAB KP discovers overbilling scam in PESCO

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: In order to promote the vision of Honorable Chairman NAB Justice Javed Iqbal vis-à-vis to provide relief and facilitation to general public through Accountability space, surely apart from above the board accountability of all and sundry,  National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has initiated an inquiry in mega scam of overbilling 40 million extra units  against 25000 consumers which amounts to Rs. 240 million and thereby illegally over-burdened the down trodden strata of society in order to conceal the misdeeds of PESCO officials of Hazara.

As per details, the bureau taking cognizance of the complaints received at this bureau alleging  therein over billing to consumers, authorized an inquiry. During the course of inquiry, it was revealed that the officials of PESCO in Hazara I and Hazara II circles, in connivance with each other, charged fake, fabricated, maneuvered and exaggerated units into official records against the consumers/general public conversely to the original meter reading.

These fraudulent, dishonest and exaggerated figures were used by officials to conceal their misdeeds and theft caused with their connivance, resultantly putting extra financial burden on general public without any justification. Further, upon receiving complaints from consumers, the corrupt officials illegally issued Meter Change Orders (MCOs) to consumers in PESCO record, though in reality no meter was changed on ground.

During inquiry it is also revealed that in other three circles of Hazara comprising of more than hundreds of thousands consumers, the same modus operandi has been adopted by the officials of PESCO, the inquiry of the same will be initiated shortly.

It merits mentioning here that Chairman NAB Justice Javed Iqbal since his assuming the charge has time and again vowed and stressed upon that NAB through effective accountability mechanism, will ensure transparency and improvement in service delivery so that relief is provided to general public.