Islamabad: Amid public outcry over massive electricity rates, Caretaker Prime Minister (PM) Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has demanded to form a strategy within 48 hours to tackle the situation. An emergency meeting was called where Anwar ul Haq Kakar received a brief on the electricity bills in July.
During the meeting, the caretaker PM directed to take measures that would not exert a burden on the national treasure and also provide convenience to the public. He added to provide reforms for the power sector along with short, medium and long-term plans. Anwaar ul Haq Kakar also asked the relevant ministries to provide details of the officers & institutions availing free electricity.
Another round of meetings will take place where the provincial chief ministers will take an in-depth consultation regarding the excess in bills of July and implementing energy-saving measures.
Surge in electricity bills causes nationwide outrage
The inflated electricity bills have caused national-level outrage as people are protesting on the streets and burning the bills.
From Karachi to Khyber, the inflated power bills triggered country-wide protests. Citizens of Karachi protested against exorbitant bills from K-Electric and complained that the bills were more than their salaries. Similarly in Peshawar, people took to the streets to complain about the electric bills issue.
In Punjab, several cities reported protests against surging bills. Traders in Ganj Bazaar & Lahore Square set the power bills to file in order to record their protest۔ In Rawalpindi, protesters gathered at Committee Chowk to burn the bills and to demand the abolishment of imposed taxes on electricity. March against high power bills was also carried in Gujranwala Narowal, Attock, Sargodha, and Haripur.
