Electricity bills getting lighter as govt scrapping Rs35 PTV fee

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has finalised the plan to omit Rs35 PTV fee charged every month from every electricity consumer under license fee for Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV), sources claimed on Saturday.

The development, if it ever saw the light of day, would bring a much-needed relief for inflation-hit electricity consumers across the country, many of whom sometimes have to get loan or sell a personal belonging to settle their bills, especially during summer.

Sources further claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would make the final announcement of the elimination of the PTV fee, which collectively amounts to over Rs1.5 billion charged from consumers per month.

Notably, the PM had directed authorities a few days ago to expedite the installation of smart electricity meters across the country.

On the other hand, he had announced the latest and biggest reduction in the electricity tariff during his tenure on April 4, cutting prices by Rs7.41 per unit for domestic consumers and Rs7.59 per unit for industrial users.

PTV is supposed not only to finance its expenditure itself but also to earn profit for the treasury given the fact that it is a corporation. However, its major source of income is the license fee charged in electricity bills.

Data shows that PTV gets more than Rs16 billion annually from electricity consumers, whose majority see this fee as a burden.

what the hell?? if PTV has to work as For profit why they take TV fee? they get billions in funding and still can’t show Pakistan in major sports?
what’s the use then? shut it we have private channels
aapki nokri k liye kholay hain ye PTv k channels? ya koi service b deni hai?

— Shahzaib Saifullah (@ShahzaibSaif74) June 16, 2025

Many consumers took it to social media to voice their concerns, questioning that why they are forced to pay Rs35 every month in the name of PTV fee, when they don’t even own a TV.

Interestingly, they add, this fee is also charged from mosques, churches, and other alike institutions where TV could never get a room.

Some consumers have openly called this fee ‘extortion money’ that the government mints forcefully from every consumer.

Dekhta kon hai PTV ab .
Ab toh gunda Tax hai seeda seeda.
In ki salaries nikalti hain is tax say. Haram khor hain yeh.
Uswaqt 200 / rupee bari baat hoti thi.

— Zeeshan Ahmed (@ZeeshansheikhA1) February 25, 2025

The long-awaited announcement of the PTV fee elimination would be welcomed from all segments of life, bringing relief for domestic, commercial and all-category consumers equally.

Meanwhile, sources in the federal information ministry said that the funds gathered through electricity bills help meeting expenses of all the subsidiaries, including PTV, Pakistan Broadcast Corporation, and Associated Press of Pakistan Corporation.

They rejected the “rumours”, stressing that the government cannot go for scrapping PTV fee without providing alternative funding sources to these entities.