DERA GHAZI KHAN: DG Khan Municipal Corporation (MC) has released a list of 117 government departments and their wings owing a total of Rs15 million in outstanding bills to it for water consumption.

In the defaulters list, the government schools are on the top with Rs1.9m, followed by Wapda Rs1.2m and commercial banks with Rs1m in unpaid bills.

Similarly, the colleges owe the MC Rs0.5m and the judiciary Rs0.25m, universities and food department Rs0.4m each, while highways and the post office owe Rs0.35m each.

The defaulters also include Baloch Levy (Rs277,000), Border Military Police (Rs150,000), Accounts Office (Rs329,000), Information Department (Rs67200) and Excise and Taxation Department (Rs121,300).

MC officials say that despite repeated reminders sent to these departments, no recovery has been made from them so far.

Finally, the divisional commissioner/MC administrator has ordered in case of persisting default by these departments, their water connections will be severed.

MEPCO DRIVE: During the two-month campaign in DG Khan division, 2,567 electricity thieves were arrested, 3,672 cases were registered and Rs100.27 million were collected as fine.

Commissioner Dr Nasir Mahmood Bashir said that from Sept 7 to Nov 6, electricity theft was detected on 3,676 domestic, 71 commercial, 13 agricultural and eight industrial premises in the division.

During the campaign, applications were submitted for registration of 3,689 cases against power pilferers, he added.

The commissioner said the campaign had been necessitated because line losses had increase due to rampant electricity theft, burdening the law-abiding consumer who pay their bill.

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2023