President Dr. Arif Alvi has given approval to the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance 2023, allowing for the registration of FIRs in cases of electricity theft.
This amendment targets Section 462 (O) of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, addressing the challenges faced by electricity distribution companies in filing FIRs related to power theft incidents.
The primary objective of this ordinance is to make power theft a punishable offense. Previously, electricity distribution companies encountered difficulties in taking legal action against such incidents. Now, under the revised ordinance, not only officers of grade 17 or above but also nominated individuals by the CEOs of these companies can file complaints, expanding the scope for prosecution.
The President invoked Article 89-1 of the Constitution to issue this ordinance, emphasizing its significance in combating power theft, which significantly impacts the energy sector, estimated at around Rs 590 billion.
