Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strictly directed to initiate immediate disciplinary action against the officers involved in electricity theft and its facilitation.

He gave these directions while chairing a review meeting on the prevention of electricity theft, in Islamabad today.

The Prime Minister said those who caused the loss of billions of dollars to the country would be punished. He highlighted that the current economic situation of the country cannot afford a problem like electricity theft.

Sharif said it is our responsibility to create a stable system through measures like the campaign to check power theft.

He directed to devise a strategy for reducing line losses and up-gradation of transmission lines.

Terming generation companies a burden on the national exchequer, the Prime Minister asked to immediately start working for their privatization.

He also directed to submit a report of the complete plan regarding the solarization of tube wells in Balochistan.

Sharif said 57 billion rupees have been recovered since September last year under the anti-power theft campaign.

The meeting decided to start work on the project of installing smart meters on transformers under the Public Sector Development Program.

It was also informed that the duration of load shedding is less in low electricity theft areas.