Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari has issued strict directives to all electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) across Pakistan to immediately initiate disciplinary proceedings against their worst-performing Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and Executive Engineers (XENs). The minister emphasized that officers found guilty of continued negligence will face escalated actions, including suspension, transfer to non-sensitive postings, and compulsory retirement where warranted.
Initial Actions Taken by PESCO and SEPCO
Acting swiftly on the minister's directive, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) have become the first DISCOs to initiate immediate disciplinary action, including suspensions, against their worst-performing officers. These actions stem from failures in resolving consumer complaints registered through the national 118 Call Centre system (CCMS PLUS). All remaining DISCOs across Pakistan are in the process of taking similar actions against their respective underperforming officers.
Review of Complaint Handling Performance
The minister's directive followed a comprehensive review of complaint handling performance data from the Customer Complaint Management System (CCMS PLUS), covering October 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. The data, which includes complaints about power outages, voltage fluctuations, line faults, and transformer tripping, revealed a deeply alarming pattern of neglect. Tens of thousands of consumer complaints were either resolved late or left unattended within stipulated resolution windows, causing prolonged electricity disruptions for citizens in both urban and rural areas. The Power Division identified the worst-performing officers in each DISCO based on late resolution rates and communicated these lists to DISCO chief executives for immediate departmental action.
Minister's Stance on Accountability
Leghari expressed grave disappointment over the failure of identified officers to fulfill their primary duty of ensuring timely redressal of consumer complaints. He stated that the 118 call centre platform was specifically established to bridge the gap between citizens and electricity service providers, and any officer treating this system with indifference undermines the government's commitment to consumer welfare. He directed that disciplinary proceedings, including suspension where warranted, be initiated against all identified officers without delay and concluded in a time-bound manner under applicable service rules.
Specific Suspensions in PESCO and SEPCO
PESCO has suspended three SDOs and one XEN with immediate effect for misconduct, citing failure to meet prescribed performance targets as reflected in CCMS data. The suspended SDOs, working in Gulberg, Shahi Bagh, and Sethi Town/Dalazak Sub-Divisions under Peshawar Circle, have been attached to the General Manager (Operation) PESCO HQ for regular attendance. The suspended XEN, posted at Mardan-I Division, has been attached to the Superintending Engineer (Operation) Mardan Circle. Additionally, the XEN (Operation) Swabi-I Division has been placed under suspension and attached to the Superintending Engineer (Operation) Peshawar Circle. SEPCO has suspended one SDO and one former XEN for misconduct as worst performers in complaint resolution. Sajjad Ali Memon, SDO Operation Sub-Division Rohri, and Mairajuddin Shaikh, formerly Executive Engineer (Ops) Division Sukkur and currently serving as Executive Engineer Construction Division Sukkur, have both been attached to SEPCO Headquarters for marking attendance. These orders were issued with the approval of the CEO of SEPCO.
Broader Accountability Drive Across DISCOs
The accountability drive is not limited to PESCO and SEPCO. All other DISCOs, including LESCO, GEPCO, FESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, HAZECO, HESCO, QESCO, and TESCO, are in the process of initiating disciplinary proceedings against their respective worst-performing officers. Across these DISCOs, a combined total of over 100 SDOs and XENs have been identified as worst performers and face imminent departmental action, including show-cause notices, suspension, and transfer to non-operational postings.
Enhanced Monitoring and Public Transparency
The minister further directed all DISCOs to implement an enhanced weekly monitoring mechanism to track complaint resolution rates at both sub-divisional and divisional levels. Officers who continue to demonstrate consistent failure in complaint management will face escalated actions, including suspension, transfer to non-operational postings, and compulsory retirement. The Power Division has also announced that performance rankings of all SDOs and XENs will be published quarterly and made available to the public, reinforcing the government's commitment to transparency and accountability in the power sector.
