In light of rising power prices, the caretaker administration headed by Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is considering allowing inflation-stricken individuals with bills totaling up to 400 units to pay their obligations over a six-month period.
In response to a widespread uproar against the excessive electricity bills, the premier deliberated relief plans for the public while presiding over a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Thursday.
Instalment Payments for Electricity Bills
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), a Washington-based lender whose terms are widely seen as the main cause of exorbitant energy prices, was the subject of continued discussions at the meeting, according to acting Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar.
The premier was briefed on current economic statistics as well as a number of other topics during the discussion, including the necessity to take decisive action against smuggling and illegal foreign exchange rackets in light of the rupee’s already fragile and declining value.
Meanwhile, praising the contribution made by out-of-country Pakistanis to the growth of the nation and ordering immigration and customs authorities to help them, PM Kakar referred to them as “assets” and praised their contribution.
Several federal ministers, including Interior Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Finance Minister Akhtar, Federal Minister for Commerce Gohar Ejaz, Governor State Bank Jameel Ahmad, as well as businesspeople and industrialists, attended the conference.
The cabinet-level meeting follows continuing nationwide demonstrations against rising inflation and electricity prices.
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Earlier today, traders from all over the nation protested against sharp increases in electricity rates as the caretaker administration indicated its inability to offer assistance due to stringent IMF requirements.
To pressure the government to make changes to the laws, numerous trade groups in various cities, including Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Quetta, Vehari, Peshawar, and others, are observing shutter-down strikes.
Political parties have also criticised the increasing rates that have led to sky-high electricity bills. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) instructed party members to protest vehemently and act as the “people’s voice” earlier this week.
Amir Sirajul Haq of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) called for a “peaceful protest” last week in response to exorbitant electricity costs. A few days prior, Khawaja Asif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stated on social networking site X, formerly known as Twitter, that the IMF should be contacted in order to enhance the maximum of relief for consumers from 200 to 300 units.
The former defence minister claimed that more than Rs650 billion in electricity was stolen nationwide and that more than Rs200 billion in electricity from Azad Kashmir, ex-Fata, and Balochistan was lost.
Last week, Power Division Secretary Rashid Langrial announced the termination of the free electricity programme offered to power distribution company officers in grades 17 and above as a response to the nation’s ongoing energy crisis.