A retired education department employee, Noor Hassan, died after suffering cardiac arrest at a PESCO office in Charsadda, where he had reportedly gone over a disputed electricity bill.
According to his family, Hassan had an argument with officials regarding a bill of Rs50,000. His son claimed that the electricity meter showed very little consumption despite the unusually high amount charged.
The family has called for police action against the meter reader concerned and wants the circumstances surrounding the incident to be investigated.
PESCO has rejected the family’s allegations of mistreatment and denied that an argument took place with Hassan. The power company said the disputed bill had already been reduced to Rs12,000 following a court decision.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to complaints about electricity billing and the difficulties faced by consumers when they challenge unusually high charges.
Concerns over overbilling have remained a major issue in Pakistan’s power sector. A recent audit reportedly identified inflated electricity bills amounting to Rs47 billion, adding to public concern about billing practices.
The Charsadda incident has therefore brought both the human impact of billing disputes and the wider issue of electricity overcharging into focus.
Authorities may now face pressure to examine the circumstances surrounding Hassan’s death and address the family’s complaint against the meter reader.
The case also highlights the importance of resolving disputed electricity bills through clear and transparent procedures, particularly when consumers raise concerns about meter readings and unusually high charges.
