The Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has charged electricity thieves Rs 9.5 million after uncovering power theft at two locations in its Northern Circle, a company spokesperson said on Tuesday.

In the first operation, officials detected theft at a factory on Baradari Road in the Jia Musa Sub-division, where a 57 kW load was being run on a 7 kW display meter. Heavy stone-cutting machinery was being operated through the illegal use of electricity, the spokesperson said.

Two officials, including a meter reader, were suspended for their alleged involvement in the theft, and an inquiry has been initiated.

In a second operation in the Sanda Sub-division, electricity was being supplied to swimming pools, houses and shops by illegally drawing power from a 25 kW transformer. The LESCO team seized transformers, meters and illegal cables at the site.

According to the spokesperson, electricity thieves were charged a total of Rs 9.5 million in both operations.

“Electricity thieves are enemies of the nation and no concessions will be made to them,” the LESCO chief executive officer said.