LAHORE – Bahria Town residents are facing turmoil, this time in form of a crippling power cut. Amid crackdown on real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, the life in upscale community has only grown more uncertain. Now, with electricity shut down over Rs68 crore in unpaid bills, residents are facing chaos, leaving many questioning when normalcy will return.
Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) disconnected electricity to four major Bahria Town Lahore projects after the developer failed to clear over Rs682 million in unpaid bills. The affected projects include Bahria Town, Bahria Orchard, Bahria Education City, and a Kingrete Associates development.
LESCO officials said the utility will not restore power until all dues are paid. He added that multiple payment extensions had already expired. According to LESCO records, Bahria Town owes over Rs52 crore, Bahria Orchard Rs13.7 crore, Bahria Education City Rs. 5.465 million, and the Kingrete project Rs. 2.7 million. The utility had set a final payment deadline for November 27, but the developer chose to approach the courts instead.
The power cut sparked outrage among residents, who report spoiled food, freezing water, and disrupted daily routines. Many plan to protest outside the Bahria Town offices. Resident Fayyaz Ahmad described the situation: “It feels like we are living in a jungle — no electricity and no warm water.”
This is not the first time Bahria Town has faced power issues. In 2024, LESCO disconnected electricity over Rs. 762 million in unpaid bills. The developer has also faced complaints regarding overbilling and solar power deductions at its Islamabad projects.
LESCO has made it clear that electricity will be restored immediately once all outstanding dues are cleared, leaving thousands of residents in uncertainty and anger.
Earlier this year, Malik Riaz threatened possible nationwide halt of Bahria Town operations, claiming relentless government pressure crippled company’s ability to function. In a post, Bahria Town founder revealed that dozens of staff have been arrested, company accounts frozen, and vehicles seized, bringing cash flow and daily services to a standstill.
He warned that tens of thousands of employees are now unpaid, with senior staff absent, development projects stalled, and basic community maintenance disrupted. He stressed that the crisis threatens not just Bahria Town, but the national economy, with billions in investments frozen across cities from Karachi to Lahore and Islamabad, and hundreds of billions worth of commercial projects on hold.
Bahria Town shutting down operations in Pakistan after prolonged ‘battle for survival’
