How to Report an Unsafe Electric Pole in Pakistan: NEPRA Records 118 Deaths on Company Networks

Short answer: NEPRA's report says 118 people died on power company networks in 2024-25: 38 employees and 80 members of the public. If you see a fallen wire, a sparking pole or a pole that gives a shock, stay away and call your company's helpline, then report it to NEPRA if nothing is done.

Most of the people who died were not company staff. They were ordinary people near poles, wires and transformers. NEPRA is now looking into each case and has asked every company to check its earthing.

We downloaded and read NEPRA's Performance Evaluation Report of Distribution Companies for 2024-25 from nepra.org.pk on 13 October 2026. It covers the year to June 2025. This is a sad topic, so we keep to the facts the report gives and the steps a reader can take.

NEPRA recorded 118 deaths in one year

The report counts 118 deaths in the areas of the distribution companies in 2024-25. Of these, 38 were employees and 80 were members of the public. NEPRA calls this a troubling decline in safety and a sign of lapses in following safety rules.

The report says IESCO recorded the most deaths, followed by K-Electric, PESCO and HESCO. The summary at the front of the report lists PESCO and K-Electric in the other order, so we do not rank the middle two with certainty.

Companies blame illegal connections and private premises

The report says the companies attributed many deaths to customer negligence, such as illegal hook connections, called kunda, and accidents inside private property. NEPRA is not accepting this at face value. It is checking each case itself.

It is investigating every reported case under Section 27A of the NEPRA Act. It says it has imposed substantial fines on the companies after detailed investigations. It does not list the amounts in the pages we read.

Poor earthing of poles was found in some cases

NEPRA says some accidents came from poor earthing or grounding of poles and other structures. It has told every company to survey its poles, fix the faults and send a safety improvement plan. It checks progress every month.

The report also says compliance from several companies has been unsatisfactory and led to legal action. That means a pole that shocks people is a known fault type, and a report from a resident is useful evidence.

Report an unsafe pole or wire the same day

Do not touch the pole or try to move a wire. Keep other people and animals away, then call your company. Write down the pole number or the nearest landmark and the time you called. This gives NEPRA a record if you need to escalate.

1. Stay clear of the pole, wire or transformer and warn others, especially children.
2. Call your company's helpline. In many areas this is 118, as in our steps to report a fallen wire or sparking pole.
3. Give the exact place, a landmark and what you can see, such as a hanging wire or sparks.
4. Write down the complaint number, the time and the name of the person who took your call.
5. Take a photo from a safe distance if you can.
6. If the company does not respond, register the case in the NEPRA Asaan Approach app.

Families can seek compensation after a death

If a family member died from an electric shock, the case may be against the company if its equipment was at fault. We set out the route, the papers and the limits in our guide to claiming compensation after an electric shock death.

Report an illegal connection near you before it harms someone. The steps are in how to report electricity theft or meter tampering. Never make your own hook connection. The report names this as one cause the companies point to.

Common questions

How many people died on power company networks in 2024-25?

NEPRA's report records 118: 38 employees and 80 members of the public.

Which company had the most deaths?

IESCO, according to the report. The report lists K-Electric, PESCO and HESCO next, but its sections list PESCO and K-Electric in different orders.

Does NEPRA say the companies are at fault?

It says the companies blamed customer negligence in many cases, and it is investigating each one. It also found poor earthing in some cases and has told all companies to fix it.

Has NEPRA fined the companies?

The report says substantial fines were imposed on all companies after investigations. We could not find the amounts in the report, so we do not state them.

What should I do if a pole gives me a shock?

Move away without touching the pole again, warn others and report it to your company at once. Seek medical help if anyone was hurt. Then keep your complaint number.

Can I report a danger without giving my name?

We could not verify whether the helpline or app allows an anonymous report. Give your number if you want updates on the fix.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 13 October 2026. Source: NEPRA Performance Evaluation Report of Distribution Companies, FY 2024-25, Section 2.9 and Table 13. Fine amounts and per-company ranks beyond the highest were not clear in the report, so they are not stated.