Power Minister Orders Action Against Worst-Performing DISCO Officers; Suspensions Begin in PESCO and SEPCO
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Power, Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, has directed all electricity distribution companies (DISCOs) across the country to initiate immediate disciplinary proceedings against their worst-performing Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) and Executive Engineers (XENs) for failing to address consumer complaints in a timely manner.
The directive followed a comprehensive review of complaint-handling data from the national 118 Customer Complaint Management System (CCMS PLUS), covering the period from October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. The review found that tens of thousands of complaints related to power outages, voltage fluctuations, line faults, and transformer failures were either resolved late or left unattended, causing prolonged disruptions for consumers across Pakistan.
Acting on the minister’s instructions, Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) have become the first distribution companies to initiate disciplinary action, including suspensions, against officers identified as the poorest performers in complaint resolution.
PESCO has suspended three SDOs and one XEN with immediate effect for misconduct and failure to meet prescribed performance standards reflected in CCMS data. The affected officers have been attached to senior operational offices for attendance during the suspension period. In addition, another XEN from Swabi-I Division has also been suspended and reassigned pending further proceedings.
Similarly, SEPCO has suspended one SDO and one former XEN, identifying them as the worst performers in resolving complaints registered through the 118 helpline. Both officers have been directed to report to SEPCO headquarters during the disciplinary process.
The accountability drive is expected to expand across all remaining DISCOs, including LESCO, GEPCO, FESCO, IESCO, MEPCO, HAZECO, HESCO, QESCO, and TESCO. According to the Power Division, more than 100 SDOs and XENs have been identified nationwide as poor performers and may face departmental action, including show-cause notices, suspension, transfers, and other penalties.
Minister Leghari expressed disappointment over the failure of field officers to fulfil their responsibility toward consumers, stating that the 118 complaint system was established to bridge the gap between citizens and electricity service providers. He emphasized that negligence in complaint resolution directly undermines public trust and the government’s commitment to consumer welfare.
The minister also directed all DISCOs to introduce enhanced weekly monitoring of complaint resolution rates at both divisional and sub-divisional levels. Officers who continue to perform poorly may face stricter disciplinary measures, including transfer to non-operational postings and compulsory retirement.
The Power Division further announced that quarterly performance rankings of all SDOs and XENs will be made public as part of efforts to improve transparency and accountability in the electricity sector.
Officials said the government’s ongoing digitization reforms and the strengthened CCMS PLUS platform now allow real-time monitoring of consumer complaints, enabling authorities to objectively assess field performance and improve service delivery across Pakistan’s power distribution network. – ER