In response to widespread public outrage over surging electricity bills, Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has convened an emergency meeting on Sunday, urging authorities to formulate concrete solutions within the next 48 hours.
The meeting, which centered on the escalating electricity bills, power theft concerns, and overall power sector issues, aimed to tackle the burgeoning crisis head-on.
Chairing the meeting, Prime Minister Kakar emphasized the need for prudent and well-thought-out measures that could alleviate the burden of increased electricity bills.
He stressed that any action taken must avoid hasty decisions that could negatively impact the nation. The Prime Minister underlined his commitment to ensuring that measures adopted would neither strain the national exchequer nor further inconvenience consumers.
Expressing concern for the public’s welfare, Prime Minister Kakar also highlighted the incongruity of ordinary citizens grappling with financial hardships while elected officials and bureaucrats enjoyed complimentary electricity.
He called for transparency, directing relevant ministries and departments to furnish a detailed report about entities and personnel availing themselves of cost-free electricity privileges.
The Prime Minister asserted his role as a representative of the common man and urged reductions in electricity expenditure at both the Prime Minister House and the Pakistan Secretariat.
He even went so far as to suggest that the air conditioning in his own room be turned off if necessary.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister announced plans for detailed consultations with provincial chief ministers to address the escalating electricity bills and explore strategies for electricity conservation.
He pressed power distribution companies to devise comprehensive roadmaps for curbing electricity theft.
In addition to immediate solutions, Prime Minister Kakar called for comprehensive reform initiatives in the electricity sector, encompassing short, medium, and long-term strategies.
The meeting was attended by prominent figures including Caretaker Federal Ministers Shamshad Akhtar, Gohar Ejaz, Murtaza Solangi, Advisor to the Prime Minister Dr. Waqar Masood, the Secretary of Power, the Chairman of NEPRA, the Chairman of WAPDA, and other high-ranking officials.
The emergency meeting followed a series of protests across various cities in the country, sparked by exorbitant electricity bills arising from a significant surge in the national average tariff.
Notably, demonstrations were reported in Multan, Lahore, and Karachi, where residents and traders took to the streets to voice their grievances. In Multan’s Alfalah Market, protesters brandished banners and set tires ablaze, leading to road blockades and disruptions.
