Pakistan to Install Smart Meters to Curb Power Theft
Minister Ahad Cheema announced the installation of smart meters across all power distribution companies to reduce electricity theft and prevent consumer overbilling.
Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division Ahad Cheema announced plans to install smart meters on transformers across all power distribution companies (DISCOs) in Pakistan. The initiative aims to curb electricity theft, improve billing accuracy, and protect consumers from overbilling. The Economic Affairs Division is currently negotiating with multilateral partners to secure funding for the project.
During meetings in Islamabad on November 10 and 11, 2026, Cheema outlined how these development programs will integrate with the government's privatization goals. He stated that if a DISCO is privatized during the funding or preparation phase, the financing and projects will be transferred to the private investor.
To protect the public, Cheema mandated that any new projects initiated by private investors must undergo competitive bidding and receive approval from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. He emphasized that the government will ensure investors fulfill their contractual and financial obligations, asserting that "the purpose of privatisation was not to shift costs or undue pressure onto consumers."
