ISLAMABAD: An emergency meeting chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar concluded at the PM House in Islamabad with no concrete outcome. The Ministry of Energy (Power Division) officials briefed the prime minister on electricity tariffs during the emergency meeting.
Protests triggered by inflated electricity bills continued for the third consecutive day in various parts of Pakistan. The PESCO requested police security amid fears of violence. Citizens, already grappling with soaring inflation, have taken to the streets to protest against substantial hikes in electricity tariffs and increased taxes in multiple cities.
PESCO sent a letter to the Capital City Police Chief requesting police deployment in several sub-divisions due to concerns about potential vandalism. Protests have included citizens blocking roads, burning bills, and staging rallies against the electricity bill hikes.
Traders also joined the protests in various cities, demanding the removal of excessive taxes from utility bills. Protests were held in places like Punjab’s Rahim Yar Khan, Chunian city, Faisalabad, Lahore, Risalpur, and Nowshehra district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Political parties, including the Jamaat-e-Islami and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), condemned the bill hikes and additional taxes.
MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressed concern that the protests could escalate into riots, urging the government to take immediate relief measures for power consumers.
The federal cabinet had previously approved a significant increase in the base tariff of electricity in July, a decision attributed to factors such as the rupee’s devaluation, high inflation and interest rates, new capacities, and low sales growth. Conditions set by the IMF for structural reforms in the energy sector also influenced the move.
Despite this increase, the applicable tariff would be even higher when considering surcharges, taxes, duties, levies, and adjustments. The public outcry against these hikes continues as citizens demand relief from the financial burden.
