Acting Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Sunday ordered relevant agencies to design "concrete measures" to reduce rising electricity bills and submit the plan to him within the next 48 hours.


He issued the guidelines during an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Islamabad, which he announced a day ago amid protests across the country against rising utility bills' electricity.


The day before, protests had taken place in cities across the country - and continue to this day - over sky-high electricity bills due to a significant increase in the national average price, prompting Kakar to must convene an emergency meeting.



Another meeting will take place tomorrow (Monday), a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said, adding that the Acting Prime Minister had received a detailed summary of the increased electricity bill.
in July in today's session.


Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Kakar said: “We will not take any hasty actions to harm the country.
We will take measures that do not weigh on public wallets and that will make it easier for consumers.


“It is impossible that while people are facing difficulties, high-ranking officials and the Prime Minister continue to consume electricity for free, paid for by taxes paid by the people.
»


With that said, he asked the relevant departments and branches to submit to him contact information of agents receiving free electricity, a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.


"I represent ordinary people," he said, promising that measures would be taken to reduce electricity consumption at the Prime Minister's Palace and Pak's Secretariat.
So he added, “even if the air conditioner in my room needs to be turned off, do it.
”


Regarding tomorrow's meeting, the Prime Minister said he would hold detailed consultations with the heads of the provincial ministers on the sky-high bill in July and the implementation of energy-saving measures.


The PMO statement said it had requested additional roadmaps from electricity distribution companies to combat electricity theft.
In addition, the Prime Minister asked the competent authorities to submit "as soon as possible" the short-term, medium-term and long-term reform plans in the electricity sector.


He then said on X that the care government will try to provide as much relief as possible to the people while acting on its duty.


Acting Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar, Acting Commerce Minister Gohar Ijaz, Acting Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, Prime Minister Kakar's Advisor, Dr Waqar Masood, Electricity Minister, Chairman of the 'Development Authority' Electricity and Water, Chairman of the National Committee of Electricity Regulatory Authority and related officials attended the meeting.
, as stated by the PMO.


On Saturday, the caretaker government outlined a plan to eliminate subsidized electricity enjoyed by nightclubs and civil servants aged 17 and above.


Acting Information Minister Solangi confirmed to Dawn that free electricity supply to nightclub staff would also be stopped and that "the brief aims to restore free electricity access to officers 17 years of age and older.
" will be presented at the next cabinet meeting".
Events are held in several cities

Meanwhile, protests have taken place in Multan, Lahore, Karachi and elsewhere against sky-high electricity bills.


People and small businesses at Alfalah market in Multan took to the streets to protest against electricity bills by waving banners and burning tires, blocking the road.


Speaking to DawnNewsTV, one of the protesters lamented that he was the sole breadwinner and his bill was Rs 24,000, even though he only used a 'fridge and fan'.
He added that last month his electricity bill was at Rs 23,000.


Another man said: “Flour costs Rs 150/kg, gas price is Rs 300/litre – tell me where to go, what to do?


A man in Multan complained about his high electricity bill.
- Screenshot from the video provided by the author


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