Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has called an emergency meeting in Islamabad on Sunday (August 27) to discuss the high electricity bills that have triggered countrywide protests.
“I have called an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister’s House tomorrow on the issue of hiked electricity bills,” the caretaker prime minister announced on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. “In the meeting, a briefing will be sought from the ministry of power and distribution companies and consultations will be held to give maximum relief to consumers regarding their electricity bills.”
Countrywide protests against high electricity bills
Pakistani consumers in different cities took to streets over the weekend to protest the exorbitant increase in electricity bills and sky-high energy bills this month.
The protests were held after the country’s power regulator, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), increased the electricity price by Rs4.96 per unit which has resulted in soaring power bills.
In Peshawar, many protestors burned their electricity bills at a protest in Peshawar city against massive hike in power tariffs in Pakistan.
The government’s response came amid protests and announcements from mosques in different cities, calling the masses to not pay their utility bills to protest the hike. Video clips from the Pakistani cities of Mansehra and Wazirabad showed people making such announcements from the mosques.
The protest in Karachi was supported by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and demanded an immediate reduction in the sky-high electricity prices and additional taxes imposed through power bills.
Speaking on the occasion, trade leaders and protestors said that they “reject the excessive charges being collected by K-Electric in our electricity bills.”
Several trade bodies in Karachi, Islamabad and Peshawar have issued warnings of potential “consequences” if the government did not take action to address the mounting power tariffs.
Huge protests were also reported in Lahore, Attock, Peshawar, Quetta, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Rahim Yar Khan and Multan against the inflated electricity bills.
Residents and traders in Multan’s Alfalah Market protested high electricity bills by blocking roads, holding banners, and setting tires on fire. The protesters demanded a 75% reduction in bills and warned authorities to address the issue to avoid public unrest.
One of the protesters expressed frustration with bills, and told Dawn News that despite minimal usage, he received a bill of Rs24,000 for a refrigerator and fans.
Another man highlighted the rising cost of essentials like flour and petrol and questioned the fairness of the situation. “Flour is Rs150/kg, petrol is Rs300/litre — tell me where should I go, what should I do? Should I give poison to my children?” said the protestor in Multan.
In August 2023, Pakistan government has increased fuel prices twice, pushing up the cost of living amid inflationary pressure that already remains high.
