In response to a significant increase in electricity prices, thousands of Pakistanis took to the streets and participated in nationwide strikes over the weekend. This forced the caretaker government to devise a plan as the nation is currently experiencing its worst economic crisis in recent memory.
The interim government reportedly decided to give relief to power consumers, using up to 300 units in October’s bills, as the populace is calling for caretakers to reverse the additional fees that have almost made electricity unaffordable.
According to media reports, consumers with electricity bills up to Rs 70,000 will receive a relief of approximately Rs 13,000, or close to 20%.
The government is developing a plan to defuse tense situations. The Kakar-led cabinet is in discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the issue of providing relief to power consumers is being thoroughly discussed after the global lender previously rejected a proposal for any subsidies.
The final choice will reportedly be made in the coming days after the IMF requested additional information from Pakistani officials.
In a virtual meeting last week, Esther Perez Ruiz, the IMF’s resident representative for Pakistan, requested a written plan from the interim government for the collection of electricity bills and relief measures from interim Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar.
According to a report, the government did not receive any instructions from the IMF to lower the cost of electricity, and it is likely that payments will be made over time.
People are burning bills during the nationwide protests and shut-down strikes, and calls for civil disobedience are becoming more popular.
Along with blocking major thoroughfares nationwide, people demanded that the government increase taxes.
