Inflated electricity bills: PM summons emergency meeting tomorrow

ISLAMABAD: In view of the recent unrest in the country regarding the inflated electricity bills, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has summoned an emergency meeting tomorrow.

All the relevant stake holders have been summoned and the PM has sought briefing from the Ministry of Power and distribution companies.

The meeting will mull on ways to curtail the inflated bills and provide relief to the masses.

بجلی کے بھاری بِلوں کے معاملے پر میں نے کل وزیر اعظم ہاؤس میں ہنگامی اجلاس طلب کر لیا ہے۔ اجلاس میں وزارت بجلی اور تقسیم کار کمپنیوں سے بریفنگ لی جائے گی اور صارفین کو بجلی کے بِلوں کے حوالے سے زیادہ سے زیادہ ریلیف دینے کے حوالے سے مشاورت کی جائے گی۔

— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) August 26, 2023

Thousands of Pakistanis took to the streets on Friday to protest against sky-high electricity bills and burned their bills and blocked roads in several cities across the country.

Protests erupt in various cities against soaring electricity bill

The protesters, who included traders, students, religious groups and civil society members, demanded the government to withdraw the additional charges and taxes imposed on their electricity bills, which they said had made their lives unbearable amid rising inflation and economic hardship.

They also expressed their anger at the frequent power outages and the poor quality of service provided by the state-owned Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and its distribution companies.