The Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has initiated a detailed austerity program to foster financial discipline and better resource management, following instructions from the Government of Pakistan and the Ministry of Energy (Power Division). The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Engr Akhtar Hamid Khan, announced that these measures have been put into effect immediately.
Under this plan, PESCO employees will now work four days a week, from Monday to Thursday, with Fridays designated as remote workdays. Despite these changes, critical field operations such as power restoration, addressing consumer complaints, dues recovery, bill distribution, and meter reading will continue without disruption.
In a significant development to reduce expenses, approximately 60 percent of official vehicles have been taken off the road for two months, and fuel allocations have been cut by half. Officers have been directed to minimize field visits, with vehicle use restricted to emergency situations and requiring prior authorization.
Furthermore, procurement of new durable goods has been halted until June 2026. Senior officials in BPS-20 and above, earning Rs300,000 or more, have been encouraged to voluntarily donate two days’ salary to support the austerity efforts. Meetings and hearings are now conducted virtually to reduce costs.
Electricity consumption within offices is being lowered by cutting air conditioning and lighting usage by 50 percent. Additionally, official dinners funded by the company have been suspended during this period. These steps are designed to ensure careful financial management while continuing to provide uninterrupted services to consumers, the CEO emphasized.
