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In a response to the widespread outcry over inflated electricity bills, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has urgently convened an emergency meeting in Islamabad to address the escalating situation.
This comes as cities across Pakistan, including Karachi, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, and Gujranawala, have witnessed protests erupting over the soaring electricity bills that have left many consumers in shock.
Prime Minister Kakar has directly instructed the Ministry of Energy and the power distribution companies to present a comprehensive briefing on the contentious issue. The meeting aims to deliberate on strategies that could provide maximum relief to the masses burdened by the steep electricity charges.
Expressing his commitment to the matter, the prime minister took to social media to announce the meeting at the PM House and expressed his intention to consult widely to alleviate the concerns of power consumers.
Disgruntled consumers resorted to blocking roads
The uproar has been fueled by numerous power consumers across various cities who have decried the reception of exorbitant electricity bills. In a display of collective frustration, protests have materialized in different urban centers.
Disgruntled consumers have resorted to blocking roads and even burning their electricity bills as symbolic gestures of protest. Many have also declared their intent to challenge the perceived injustice by the public utility companies in court.
This wave of public outrage has its roots in recent tariff hikes. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) took the controversial decision to raise the national average tariff by approximately Rs5 per unit.
As a result, the base unit power tariff saw a notable increase from Rs24.82 to Rs29.78. Further intensifying the matter, the government put forward an additional proposal to raise the power rate by Rs3.55 per unit, thereby amplifying consumer grievances.
Protests gains momentum nationwide as citizens took to streets
Protests have gained momentum nationwide as citizens took to the streets on Friday to voice their dissent against the steep electricity bills. Demonstrations and rallies unfolded outside the premises of power distribution companies in numerous cities.
In Karachi, the traders and workers of Jamaat-e-Islami staged a protest outside K-Electric, demanding a rollback of the recent price hikes. The traders also issued a stern warning that markets could potentially become off-limits for K-Electric staff unless the price increase is revoked.
The widespread agitation transcended regional boundaries, with protests springing up in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Gujranwala, Narowal, Kasur, Attock, Sargodha, Peshawar, Haripur, and many other cities.
In Multan, protesters took to blocking roads and vociferously chanted slogans targeting the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO). Similarly, in Gujranwala, citizens congregated outside the offices of the Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) to voice their grievances.
Amidst the fervent demonstrations, a common target of criticism was the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), with protesters vocally expressing their dissatisfaction and even resorting to burning electricity bills as a symbolic act of defiance.
Of note is the recent decision by the federal cabinet to approve NEPRA’s request for an increase in the national average tariff. As a consequence, the uniform electricity tariff was hiked by up to Rs. 7.5 per unit from July 1, 2023. This increment effectively pushed the end rate of electricity, encompassing surcharges and taxes, beyond Rs. 55 per unit for certain consumer categories.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of these tariff adjustments, the protests serve as a poignant reminder of the critical intersection between governance, public services, and the financial well-being of the citizenry.
