Subsidy on electricity bills for September withdrawn for Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has revoked a Rs 14 per unit electricity subsidy for consumers, in line with the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The subsidy had initially been announced by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as part of a relief package aimed at easing the burden of rising electricity tariffs for residents of Punjab and Islamabad during August and September 2024. Consumers using less than 500 units in August had benefited from reduced bills.

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However, in a recent move, Islamabad residents will no longer receive the subsidy for September. The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has issued a notice confirming that consumers in the federal capital will be charged the full electricity rate as per the tariff set on July 1.

Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari, speaking to local media, confirmed the decision. She clarified that while the chief minister had intended to extend the subsidy to Islamabad, the terms of the IMF agreement prevented it.

Meanwhile, consumers in Punjab will continue to benefit from the subsidy until September 30.