‘Consultations under way with IMF for relief to electricity consumers’

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Information and Broadcasting Minister Murtaza Solangi has revealed that the interim government is in communication with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide consumers with relief. He assured that decisions will be reached swiftly.

Following a federal cabinet meeting convened to discuss proposals for curbing excessive electricity bills in the wake of soaring power tariffs, talking to ARY, Solangi said that the cabinet meeting deliberated on providing consumers with short-term, medium-term, and long-term relief solutions.

He highlighted that while certain decisions were made during the meeting, there are a few issues that require the input and guidance of the IMF board for their implementation.

Solangi further stated that Caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar is in contact with the IMF, assessing primary surpluses and circular debt.

The federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad had been convened primarily due to public protests against exorbitant increases in electricity bills, arising from the notable hike in the average tariff.

Sources told Dawn that Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar didn’t chair the meeting; instead, ministers from various portfolios, including energy, finance, information, and others, were instructed to convene and devise solutions to present to the federal cabinet.

Earlier, Solangi had mentioned that the Ministry of Energy had prepared a list of proposals aimed at alleviating the impact of rising electricity costs on the vulnerable population. These suggestions were presented during Sunday’s cabinet meeting and will be shared during the current session as well.

Furthermore, the information minister indicated that plans are under way to convert some of the additional charges on electricity bills into installments, which would especially benefit consumers during the winter months when power consumption typically decreases.

He also hinted at potential reductions in taxes, along with the possibility of rolling back the subsidization on electricity bills provided to government officials in Grade 17 and above, as previously reported after the meeting on Sunday, August 27.