Govt Targets Power Theft with Smart Meter Rollout

Pakistan is moving to clamp down on power theft and inefficiency with a countrywide rollout of AMI smart meters. The Power Division has confirmed that all conventional three-phase meters will be replaced by December 2026.

The first phase targets 350,000 meters in LESCO’s jurisdiction. The government believes real-time monitoring and accurate billing will help improve recovery rates while reducing theft and unpaid bills, which cost the sector billions annually.

A formal directive has been issued to all distribution companies. Officials admit the transition will be costly, but argue it is necessary to restore transparency and efficiency in the struggling power sector.

Experts say the plan could improve governance by giving consumers confidence in billing systems. At the same time, it could help ease Pakistan’s circular debt crisis, which is driven by losses and theft.