The officials said that Sukkur Electricity Supply Company (SEPCO) with 37 percent losses was on the top of the list followed by Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (PESCO) with 32.6 percent losses.
The officials said that domestic consumers stand at 86 percent of the total power consumers with consuming 50 percent of the power produced. The officials said total power consumers across the country stand at 26.2 million. Hyderabad Electricity Supply Company's losses stood at 30.6 percent while Quetta Electricity Supply Company's losses are 23.1 percent.
The officials said that Rs 48 billion line losses on the network of PESCO, Rs 34 billion of Lahore Electricity Supply Company network, Rs 30 billion on the network of Multan Electricity Supply Company network, Rs 19.7 on HESCO and Rs 20.41 billion on Sukkur Electricity Supply Company network are recorded.
In December, performance of Discos was alarming as far as aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses are concerned.
The Pesco incurred Rs 5.828 billion in AT&C losses during the last month, while Qesco losses stood at Rs 5.829 billion. Pesco's Bannu circle incurred a loss of Rs 1.641 billion. The worst divisions were Karak and Bannu-I with losses of Rs 230 million and Rs 158 million, respectively. Sub-divisions Mattani booked a loss of Rs 133.12 million, Doaba Rs 87.28 million and Bannu Rural-I Rs 64.26 million.
In Qesco, Makran CIR circle posted the highest loss of Rs 456.69 million. The city's worst divisions were Sibi and Turbat with losses of Rs 254.6 million and Rs 250.34 million, respectively. Sui sub-division recorded a loss of Rs 87 million, Lehri, Rs 71.56 million, and Harnai recorded a loss of Rs 60.9 million.
The Pepco issued letters of explanation for poor performance to the concerned officials of Discos and asked them to respond within 14 days, the Pepco spokesperson said.
Chief executive officers of all Discos were also directed to take disciplinary action against their subordinates as per the law to arrest the unsustainable quantum of losses and increase in circular debt. Later on the PAC members visited Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) office to have a briefing on the functions and issues related with the organization. The chairman PAC while appreciating the AGP said that it is an important institutional partner of PAC as the parliamentary body is taking all the steps based on the audit reports presented by AGP. Shah added that PAC carries out its function of parliamentary oversight on utilization of public finances.
Khursheed Shah said that improvement is a continuous process and not only the DAGP but PAC should also take initiatives for improving the process of oversight and bring innovation in the existing process.
"As part of our holistic approach towards public sector auditing, we have revamped the way of working of PAC and now review of current audit reports has been started which is a significant milestone PAC has achieved," the chairman PAC added.
While briefing the PAC members who visited the office of AGP here, Auditor General of Pakistan Javaid Jehangir said the Department of Auditor General of Pakistan helps public sector organizations achieve accountability and integrity and improve operations.
The AGP further said that the mandate of DAGP is to support the governance responsibilities of oversight, insight and foresight. Auditor General of Pakistan provides unbiased and objective assessment to Parliament about whether public resources are managed responsibly and effectively to achieve intended results.
Auditor General of Pakistan issued 152 certification audit reports, 1208 compliance audit reports, 199 foreign aided projects audit reports, 79 special studies and 56 performance audit reports during the year 2016-17 while made a recovery of Rs 88 billion. While briefing on major issues highlighted in audit reports, the AGP said that weak internal controls, consistent non-compliance with rules, variation between expenditure and allocation, public money kept outside government accounts, non-compliance with PPRA Rules 2004, deficient contracts management, encroachment of state land, deficient asset management, delayed/non-recovery of government dues and tax evasion remained among the major issues.
He said the department is working to improve financial and organizational independence through strategic plan 2015-19. The AGP has approved strategy for implementation of International Standards of Supreme Audit Institution (ISSAI) and high level committee is monitoring the implementation of ISSAIs, the AGP said.
He further informed that DAGP has conducted gap analysis using ISSAI Compliance Assessment Tools while 530 officers have so far been trained under $2 million USAID technical assistance grant, the AGP added.
Among other initiatives taken under strategic plan are strengthening of Inspection, Regulation, Vigilance and Monitoring Wing, installation of dedicated toll free helpline for registering public complaints and suggestions and introduction of Whistle Blowing Policy, the AGP said.
Meanwhile Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has decided to forgo the resignation from the "cursed" Parliament that he promised during the January 17 joint opposition rally in Lahore.
Talking to reporters after attending the PAC session at the National Assembly's Secretariat on Wednesday, Rasheed stated that the time for his resignation has passed and that there is no necessity for his resignation anymore. Rasheed announced his resignation from the National Assembly during Lahore's Mall Road rally. The protest was led by Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Dr Tahirul Qadri and witnessed participation of several political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Peoples Party.