As Pakistan grapples with its ongoing protests due to high energy bills, there seems to be no immediate respite on the horizon. The government’s pursuit of much-needed relief for skyrocketing electricity bills hinges on the nod from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), leaving citizens frustrated and protests unabated.
The IMF refrained from immediately approving Pakistan’s plea to extend the recovery of August’s electricity charges over a span of six months, as the protests continue for the 6th day across various parts of the country against the sky-high electricity bills.
During a high-level conference, the international lending institution sought additional time to assess Pakistan’s appeal for the option to divide August’s electricity bills into six installments.
The caretaker government, during a meeting on Aug. 29 signaled its intention to seek approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before extending any relief to beleaguered electricity consumers.
“Some proposals were discussed during the [cabinet] meeting, but it is imperative to take the International Monetary Fund on board in this regard,” information minister Murtaza Solangi said while speaking to a private news channel.
“Minister of Finance Shamshad Akhtar was in contact with the IMF and soon the government would be in a position to announce its decisions over the issue related to the bills,” Solangi was quoted as saying in a statement issued by his ministry.
The protests initially erupted in Karachi on August 17th in response to a significant Rs4.96 per unit power tariff increase, a decision authorized by Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA). The move was made in accordance with an agreement made earlier in the year with the IMF when the international lender approved a $3 billion short-term bailout package for Pakistan.
Frustrations have since escalated, with citizens in various Pakistani cities taking to the streets to demand respite from the burden of high electricity tariffs, compounded by record inflation levels. Scenes of people burning their bills and clashing with power distribution company officials have become increasingly common.
Meanwhile, officials from the energy ministry are working on a plan that would allow electricity consumers using up to 400 units to pay their bills in four equal installments, as per the reports.
This issue of inflated electricity bills marks the first major challenge for the two-week-old caretaker government of Prime Minister Kakar, which was installed to oversee national elections following the dissolution of the National Assembly earlier in August.
Man commits suicide over 40,000 electricity bill
While the public continues to protest against the soaring electricity bills, a man reportedly committed suicide due to mounting financial pressures and an exorbitant electricity bill of Rs40,000.
Muhammad Hamza, a 35-year-old resident of Sabri Town in Dijkot, had been grappling with severe financial constraints. The excessive electricity bill served as the final straw that pushed him to his breaking point and he shot himself dead.
While Hamza’s family firmly holds the belief that the electricity bill played a crucial role in his untimely death, the Dijkot police have announced their intention to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
The deceased, survived by two young children, left behind a grieving family and a community shaken by the unfortunate incident.
Traders threaten Business shutdowns
Amidst the rallies, traders within Karachi sounded the alarm, asserting that they are prepared for shutter-down procession if the government doesn’t take swift action to reduce the burdensome electricity costs.
Kashif Chaudhry, the president of the Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajran Pakistan, a pivotal association of traders, declared the organization’s intention to protest against the alarming surge in fuel and electricity rates.
“If the government fails to address this issue, we are going to observe a countrywide shutter-down strike on September 2 to force the rulers to withdraw oppressive high electricity and fuel rates,” he said.
Atiq Mir, Chairman of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, a unified coalition of major business associations in Karachi, issued a call for tax-exempt bills.
“Protests will continue across Pakistan until the issue is resolved and we want the government to remove all taxes and charge [customers] only for the consumption of electricity,” Mir conveyed to Arab News.
Mir, part of a group of traders who engaged with officials, including the caretaker prime minister, Haq, last week in Karachi, highlighted that the prime minister was apprised of the gravity of the situation intensified by the recent surge in power rates.
