Protests erupted across the country on Friday as people came out on the streets against the soaring electricity bills.
Protests and rallies were held outside the offices of distribution companies in many cities across the country. In Karachi, traders and workers of Jamaat-e-Islami held a protest outside K-Electric and demanded a reversal of the recent hikes in the price of electricity. Traders also warned that markets will be turned into ‘No-go areas’ for K-Electric staff if the price increase isn’t reversed.
Protests were also held in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, Gujranwala, Narowal, Kasur, Attock, Sargodha, Peshawar, Haripur, and many other cities across the country.
Protesters in Multan blocked roads and chanted slogans against the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO). In Gujranwala, citizens gathered outside the office of Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO).
In many cities protesters also chanted slogans against Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and burned electricity bills.
It is pertinent to mention here that last month, the federal cabinet approved the power regulator’s request to increase the national average tariff. Subsequently, the national uniform electricity tariff was increased by up to Rs. 7.5 per unit with effect from July 1, 2023. The increase effectively took the end rate of electricity, including surcharges and taxes, beyond Rs. 55 per unit for some categories.
Featured image: Protesters burning electricity bills in Azad Kashmir.
Why protesting starting now bill many people have paid during 10-20 august nobody did complaint now people from 21-30 deadline are complaining when we said they said we are careless people and run electricity in peak hours.
Fesco and lesco delayed the electricity bills of protected customers to raise their tariffs and force them to fall under unprotected consumer slabs. I didn’t received my bill yet and many others like me.
بے شرم لوگ ہیں عوام کو ذلیل کر رہے ہیں لوٹ مار یہ لوگ کریں اور بل ہم لوگ دیں پہلے دن سے پوچھا ہوتا تو آج یہ سب کچھ نہیں ہوتا غلطی ہماری ہے عوام کے پسے پر پلنے والے کتے کے بچے
سالانہ 600 ارب کی بجلی چوری کون کرتا ھے؟ اس کا بھی تم جیسے جواز گھڑیں گے. تم جیسے ھی کونڈے ڈال کر پھر دبا کر بجلی چوری کرتے ھیں اور بل بھی نہیں دیتے اور دوسروں کو بھاشن بھی دیتے ھیں کہ حکمران کھا گئے.
How will Nepra recover losses rate of electricity should be same there should be no slab these people don’t understand is employees also work in these companies and they want salary.
Why the courts are always silent when a common man suffer?