Kakar’s relief plan on electricity bills remians elusive despite passing of 48 hours
Nationwide protests erupt against soaring inflation and rising utility costs,
Islamabad/Lahore/Karachi_ Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has refuted reports of downplaying a wheel-jam strike against exorbitant power bills.
“This is because of our friends from journalism that they associated the jam-strike protest with me and spread it in the whole of Pakistan and it is obvious that this perception was built,” he was quoted as saying in a clip shared by Geo News on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday.
When asked by the host if he didn’t say such words, Kakar replied that the 40-minute recording of a meeting with journalists was available and he was ready to pay the fine at any cost to those protesting if any word out of “wheel, jam, and strike” were used by him.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has failed to give any relief to the masses on inflated electricity bills despite an announcement, On Thursday, PM Kakar announced that in the next 48 hours, his government would announce a relief plan on the electricity bills that have led to nationwide protests.
The assurance was given by the interim premier in an interaction with senior journalists at the PM Office. Talking to senior journalists, PM Kakar said that his government did a detailed review of the electricity bills for the last two months. Now, 48 hours have passed, the Prime Minister’s promise of relief in electricity bills remains an announcement and his relief plan is not sighted anywhere.
The Prime Minister had said that he would give relief in electricity bills in the next 48 hours. Unfortunately, no plan for relief on electricity bills could come out. The minister has promised relief to consumers up to 400 units. The finance minister also indicated that she would initiate talks with the IMF for relief. The electricity consumers were promised slab benefits on installments and units. The sources said that the Ministry of Finance and Energy has not yet been able to give a plan for the relief package to the Prime Minister. The matter of stopping the supply of free electricity units to the employees of the electricity companies also turned sour.
Earlier,
Citizens are taking to the streets in massive protests across Pakistan against the steep increase in electricity and fuel prices, which have been followed by a relentless wave of inflation. Demonstrators are demanding immediate government action to provide relief in electricity bills and to rollback tax hikes.
In Lahore, business groups, industrialists, and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) organised a widespread shutterdown strike and protest against surging electricity and fuel prices. Demonstrators marched through the main market in Gulberg, calling on the government to promptly reduce electricity rates and curb theft, conduct forensic audits of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and eliminate electricity line losses and subsidies.
Addressing the protest at The Mall Lahore, Amir Jamaat-e-Islami, Sirajul Haq, voiced his rejection of any violence regarding electricity bills. He questioned the Rs 18,000 tax on a Rs 40,000 bill and asked who had authorized the caretaker government to escalate inflation.
In Karachi, the country’s commercial hub, a complete shutdown was observed in response to Jamaat-e-Islami’s call to protest against inflation and skyrocketing electricity bills. Major business centers, including Bolton, Saddar Cooperative Market, Zainab Market, Haideri, and Jama Cloth Market, remained closed.
Amir JI Karachi, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, emphasized that their movement aims not only for today’s strike but also for reducing electricity bills. He warned the government of impending consequences if they persist with their policies.
Mian Aslam, the central deputy Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, linked street crime to inflation, stating that when families lack basic necessities, crime rates escalate. He asserted that the government must lower prices of electricity, petrol, diesel, sugar, and essential commodities, addressing the demand of the 240 million people.
Kashif Chaudhary, President of the Central Organization of Traders, declared that 10 million shops across the country were closed in protest against inflation. He gave the government a 72-hour ultimatum to reconsider their decision, threatening stronger protests if they do not.
Leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and traders expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue with the government to address these pressing issues.
Similarly, in Peshawar, the JI and businessmen joined forces in a shutterdown strike against rising electricity bills. Business centers across the city, including Cantt, Hashtnagri, Khyber Bazar, and Ashraf Road, remained closed. Protesters rallied and burned tires on GT Road while vehemently protesting against the government’s decisions.
Demonstrators in Faisalabad took to the Samundari road to express their discontent, with some resorting to vandalism and violence against commuters. They demanded the withdrawal of additional taxes on electricity, gas, and petroleum products. If their demands are not met, a strike and dharna (sit-in) are planned in Islamabad on September 17.
