Pakistan’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has warned that Rs. 624 billion worth of assets belonging to power distribution companies (DISCOs) have yet to be properly identified and tagged, raising concerns about possible theft and the protection of public property ahead of privatization.

During a committee meeting, audit officials said the government must complete asset identification and valuation before moving ahead with privatization to ensure that public assets are not sold below their actual market value.

The Auditor General of Pakistan also cautioned that using uncertified valuations could result in the companies being privatized on the basis of outdated financial figures.

Govt Yet to Complete DISCO Asset Valuation

Power Division officials informed the committee that around 40 percent of the asset valuation exercise had been completed. They added that DISCOs had hired a private company to carry out asset tagging.

Officials also disclosed that the combined value of land owned by the distribution companies runs into trillions of rupees.

Committee member Chaudhry Naseer raised questions about the valuation of these properties, while MNA Munaza Hassan suggested delaying privatization until the actual value of the assets was established.

Senator Afnanullah clarified that land owned by DISCOs would not be sold during privatization but would instead be leased. Officials also confirmed that Quetta Electric Supply Company and Tribal Electric Supply Company were not included in the privatization plan.

The PAC directed the Power Division to provide certified valuations of DISCO assets within three months. It also sought a comprehensive plan explaining how employees would be treated after privatization.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry proposed inviting the Privatization Adviser to brief the committee and summoning DISCO chief executives if required.

Govt Plans Transformer-Level Electricity Monitoring

The committee also reviewed plans to improve electricity bill recovery through a digital monitoring system.

Under the proposed arrangement, authorities will disconnect defaulting consumers at the transformer level instead of shutting down entire feeders. This would allow power companies to target connections with unpaid bills without interrupting electricity supply to other consumers on the same feeder.

Power Division officials said APC meters would be installed on transformers to monitor electricity consumption and identify defaulters.

Under the pilot project, 10 transformers in each DISCO will receive these meters by December 2026. The wider installation programme is expected to be completed by June 2027.

PAC Raises Questions Over Hydropower Projects

The committee also examined issues involving major hydropower projects, including the shutdown of the Neelum-Jhelum project and reported damage to the tunnel at Tarbela-V.

Senator Afnanullah questioned the planning and design of major infrastructure projects and asked who would be held responsible if faulty designs caused damage.

He also raised concerns about reports of water entering the Tarbela power house and damage to its tunnel, seeking accountability for potential financial losses involving the country’s major hydropower investments.