Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is losing a staggering Rs583 million every day due to electricity theft and outdated systems, a new report by the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has revealed. Over the past 11 months, the province has lost a total of Rs193.4 billion, largely because of technical inefficiencies and illegal connections.
Bannu district ranked the worst, with 73.86% of power lost, amounting to Rs11.74 billion. Other areas like Tank, Karak, and Charsadda also reported high losses. Although Peshawar showed a lower loss percentage, it posted the highest financial loss — Rs51.44 billion — due to its large population and energy demand.
PESCO’s report blamed political interference and poor cooperation from local authorities for the worsening crisis. Officials also pointed out that decades-old infrastructure makes it difficult to monitor and manage electricity flow effectively.
Districts such as DI Khan, Mardan, and Nowshera contributed billions more to the losses, while places like Battagram and Haripur reported the least loss percentages, around 13% and 11% respectively.
PESCO warned that without urgent reforms, including modern infrastructure and stricter enforcement, the province will continue to suffer economically. The utility company stressed the need for political will and local support to combat theft and improve efficiency.