Nationwide protests continue against inflated power bills

ISLAMABAD: Demonstrators took to the streets in various cities on Sunday, rallying against exorbitant electricity bills and heavy taxation.

Protest actions swept across multiple cities in Pakistan as citizens voiced their discontent over the escalating cost of electricity and called on the government to implement reductions. Protesters brandished placards and chanted slogans critiquing the government’s policies.

Protests were strategically organized in numerous locales, including Multan, Faisalabad, Nowshera, Bahawalpur, Sadiq Abad, Hujra Shah Muqeem, Okara, Kasur, Malakand, and Gujranwala, among others.

Chorus of protesters raised their demands, urging the government to rescind the inflated bills and to slash electricity charges and taxes. In Gujranwala, a destitute ice vendor articulated his struggle, expressing the dilemma of feeding his family versus settling a hefty Rs64,500 bill. He rebuked the government for driving him to borrow Rs30,000 to make partial payment.

He highlighted the soaring prices of basic essentials such as flour, ghee, and sugar, compounding the financial burden.

In response, protestors obstructed the Hafizabad Road, triggering traffic congestion. Frustration led some demonstrators to set their bills ablaze, alongside chants denouncing the government and the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA).

Faisalabad witnessed traffic disruptions on Sheikhupura Road, where protesters decried the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco).

Meanwhile, in Risalpur, Nowshera, traders shuttered their businesses and obstructed traffic on GT Road to denounce high electricity bills. They warned of expanding protests across the nation unless utility rates were reduced.

PESCO personnel advised to remove green number plates from vehicles

In Bahawalpur, agitation halted traffic on the vital KLP Road, linking Sindh and Punjab, causing commuter hardships. Multan’s Bilal Chowk experienced similar traffic issues due to protests against inflated electricity bills. Sadiqabad saw traders’ associations staging a rally against excessive bills, targeting the Multan Electricity Supply Company (Mepco).

The fury against high bills manifested in fiery displays, as bills were set ablaze in Hujra Shah Muqeem, Depalpur, and Dipalpur, accompanied by fervent anti-government slogans. In Bangla Gogira, Okara, protesters obstructed Faisalabad Road, amplifying their dissent against surging bills. In Sakhakot Bazaar, Malakand, citizens proclaimed their refusal to pay electricity bills.

The Jamaat-e-Islami announced plans for another protest in Islamabad to denounce the escalating bills. Lahore witnessed afternoon protests in Ichhra, where the party decried the economic hardships inflicted on the masses, contrasting it with India’s lunar achievements.

The protesters condemned the presence of 16 different taxes on the bills, accusing the government of burdening the poor while the affluent enjoyed free electricity. Comparable protests emerged in Jhang, Renala Khurd, Sadiqabad, and Malakand. In Renala, the traders’ body initiated a strike and rally against high electricity prices, attributing the burden to government corruption. They demanded a reversal of the price hike.

Conversely, the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) sought police security to safeguard its offices in Peshawar amidst concerns of vandalism amid protests against inflated power bills.