Energy Ministry finalizes recommendations on electricity bills: Solangi,
Civil society, traders, farmers, lawyers join protests,
Islamabad_ Prime Minister is scheduled to chair another meeting today regarding possible relief to the masses in electricity bills.
NEPRA, the Power Division and DISCOs will give a briefing on the possible relief, electricity theft, losses and recoveries.
The public response to inflated bills will also be taken into consideration during the meeting. A briefing will also be given on taxes, surcharge issues and their solutions.
The Power Division has said that under the IMF agreement, the government cannot reduce electricity tariffs.
It has adopted the stance that relief to the people can only be given by enhancing recoveries.
The increase in basic electricity tariff was done on a condition of the IMF, the division maintains, adding that the annual electricity theft and losses account to more than Rs500 billion.
Electricity defaulters also owe more than Rs1,200 billion, the department said, adding that the electricity price was hiked to contain the circular debt of Rs2,310 billion.
The challenges include expensive imported fuel, the rising dollar value and 70% capacity per unit.
On Sunday, the interim prime minister chaired the first round of the emergency meeting in the wake of nationwide protests against the frequent hike in power tariff and inflated bills.
The participants were briefed about the power ministry, Water & Power Development Authority (WAPDA), and Discos (distribution companies). They also mulled over providing maximum relief to the masses in their electricity bills.
After it was concluded, the interim premier took to his ‘X’ account to share details of the huddle.
He said the participants decided to form a task force comprising the energy and finance ministries to come up with a plan of action to provide relief to the people.
The task force will also look into the issue of free units to government employees.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi on Monday said that the Ministry of Energy had finalized recommendations related to the electricity bills.
The recommendations were finalized in a high-level meeting held at the Ministry of Energy, the minister said while posting a news release of the ministry on X (formerly known as Twitter).
According to his post, the recommendations would be forwarded to the Federal Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Tuesday, for approval.
Earlier,
Hundreds of people surrounded the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) office in Rawalpindi on Monday as protests triggered by inflated electricity bills continued in many parts of the country for the fourth day.
Incensed citizens already battered by skyrocketing inflation continue to take to the streets protesting against massive hike in electricity tariffs and increased taxes in several cities, including Sargodha, Hafizabad, Vehari, Arifwala, Bahawalnagar, Hyderabad, Gujrat, Multan, Chichawatni,
Mandi Bahauddin, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Pakpattan, Mansehra, Sahiwal, Rawalpindi, Lodhran and Sheikhupura.
Those attending these demonstrations include members of the civil society — both men and women — traders, farmers, and members of the legal and business fraternities.
Hyderabad, today, witnessed a shutter-down strike in various areas of the city, while shops remained closed in Market Tower, Sereghat, Shahi Bazar, Anaj Mandi, Masan Road, and Prince Road. The Chamber of Commerce announced a shutdown in a meeting of business organisations.
A similar situation was witnessed in Mansehra where all business centers across the district, including the city, remained closed.
In other cities, protestors blocked main arteries, leading to traffic jams and disruptions. They held up placards and banners protesting what they term a “cruel” increase in the utility bill.
The power hike comes amid back-breaking inflation and skyrocketing prices which have already left people reeling, unable to make ends meet.
“It was [already] difficult to afford two square meals a day, now where will we get money for extra electricity bill?” an elderly villager in Sargodha demanded during protests today.
A protestor in Bahawalpur lamented that his family had to sell their animals to pay off the bills last month, while women protesting in Multan asserted that they were already struggling to make ends meet without the additional burden of power tariffs.
Protesters in Muzzafargarh lashed out at the government saying that rocketing electricity bills have destroyed their businesses.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.