ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has refuted the allegations of downplaying the nationwide protests against high electricity bills. He expressed sympathy for those grappling with the country’s soaring inflation.
He clarified that the video recording attributing the words “wheel-jam strike” to him was not true. Kakar said that the 40-minute talk with journalists is available. He expressed his willingness to pay any fines if he had indeed used the words “wheel,” “jam,” or “strike”.
Across Pakistan, people have been protesting for the past eight days, setting electricity bills on fire and blocking major roads. They are demanding the government withdraw the tariff hikes and eliminate additional taxes.
Regarding the protests, Kakar clarified that he does not view them as dangerous or indicative of civil war or social unrest in Pakistan. He expressed sympathy for those who are bearing heavy burdens due to rising costs.
When questioned about why his government appeared to be holding meetings without taking action, Kakar explained that the issue was multifaceted. He stated that his initial meetings after assuming office focused on two key areas: power tariffs and taxation, which he considered his top priorities.
Kakar noted that the issue of power tariffs is due to the conditions set by multilateral financial institutions. He emphasized that his team was working diligently to find short-term, mid-term, and long-term solutions to taxation problems, with a focus on ensuring that any decisions made did not have to be reversed later.
When asked about the possibility of closing markets and shopping malls by sunset to conserve energy, Kakar stated that such a decision requires collaboration with the provinces. He indicated that the government is keen on implementing energy conservation measures and would soon announce a plan in this regard. He also appealed to the nation to conserve power.
