Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the coalition government’s agenda to reduce electricity bills should not be politicized. He made these remarks while chairing a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Friday, amidst ongoing protests across the country against high power costs.
The premier stressed that politicizing the electricity issue was equivalent to insulting the populace, stating, “We do not believe in politics for the sake of politics.” His comments came as Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) led demonstrations against soaring electricity prices, resulting in the shutdown of a major road to Islamabad and additional protests in several other cities.
Protesters have demanded the government withdraw taxes on power consumption, which have significantly increased electricity bills, exacerbating the financial strain on low- and middle-income consumers. Despite the government’s negotiations with protest leaders, there has been no indication that their demands will be met.
JI Emir Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman announced the party’s intention to persist with street protests to oppose the government’s stance on rising power costs. The discontent follows a federal government-approved 26% increase in electricity prices for the fiscal year ending June 30, followed by another 20% hike on July 13, amid rising inflation.
Experts, speaking at a panel in Karachi, suggested no forthcoming reduction in electricity prices due to the government’s strategy of using petroleum products and power as revenue sources.
In today’s cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz acknowledged the tax burden on the salaried class and stated that the government had allocated Rs50 billion for relief in July, August, and September. He noted a reduction in per-unit electricity costs by Rs8.5 for industries and affirmed his administration’s protection of consumers using up to 200 units of electricity, reflecting concern for the salaried class.
The prime minister concluded by asserting that while some taxes are justified, it is inappropriate to impose additional taxes on already burdened taxpayers.
