ISLAMABAD Aug 27 (Online): Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar has directed the relevant institutions to prepare concrete measures to reduce the excess electricity bills and submit a report in the next 48 hours.
He said that such measures will be taken which will not put an additional burden on the country’s exchequer.
The distribution companies should present a road map to prevent electricity theft, it is not possible that the common man will be in trouble and bureaucrats and the prime minister will use free electricity on their taxes, he added.
The first round of emergency meeting on the increase in electricity bills was held on Sunday under the chairmanship of Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar Haq Kakar.
According to the ongoing declaration, the Prime Minister was given a detailed briefing on the increase in July electricity bills in the meeting.
The Caretaker Prime Minister said that in the next 48 hours, concrete steps should be taken to reduce the excess electricity bills. No action will be taken in haste which will harm the country.
Measures will be taken which will not burden the national exchequer and provide convenience to the consumers. The caretaker prime minister said that it is not possible that the common man is in trouble and the bureaucrats and the prime minister use free electricity on their taxes.
The concerned Ministries and concerned institutions should provide complete details of officers and institutions receiving free electricity.
Anwarul Haq Kakar said that I represent the common man, the cost of electricity in the Prime Minister’s House and Pakistan Secretariat should be kept to a minimum.
A detailed consultation with the provincial chief ministers on the implementation of power saving measures and the issue of excess bills for July will also be held on Monday.
The Caretaker Prime Minister asked the distribution companies to present a road map to prevent electricity theft.
Interim Cabinet Federal Ministers Shamshad Akhtar, Gohar Ijaz, Murtaza Solangi, Advisor to Prime Minister Dr. Waqar Masood, Secretary Power, Chairman WAPDA, Chairman Nepra and other relevant senior officials participated in the meeting.
The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the problems of the electricity sector, details regarding excess bills, electricity theft and measures to be taken to prevent it.
The Prime Minister adjourned the meeting till Monday and directed to prepare and submit concrete measures and plans.
Earlier, a briefing was given in the meeting by the Ministry of Water and Power. The Power Division officials said that the price of imported coal was also Rs 51,000 to Rs 61,000 per metric. Next year, Rs 2 trillion should be paid only in terms of capacity payments. 63.5% of domestic consumers have no increase in tariff.
The Power Division said electricity prices for 31.6 per cent domestic consumers increased by Rs 3 to Rs 6.5 per unit.
Only 4.9 percent of domestic consumers saw a tariff hike of Rs 7.5 per unit. The average tariff hike for domestic consumers was Rs 3.82, Power Division officials said. The maximum electricity tariff in 2022 was Rs 31.02 per unit. In August 2023, the price of electricity is Rs 33.89 per unit.
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