Pakistan caretaker PM calls emergency meeting after protests over inflated bills

After protests broke out across Pakistan and hashtags denouncing the country’s astronomical electricity prices began trending online on August 27, interim Prime Minister Anwarul-haq Kakar reportedly summoned an emergency meeting, as reported by The Express Tribune on August 27.

The meeting took place in Islamabad, and according to the Express Tribune, the caretaker premier had requested a full briefing on the topic from the energy ministry and electricity distribution corporations.

According to the PMO statement, discussions will be made to determine how best to reduce electricity costs for consumers.

The Express Tribune reports that the government was forced to act after widespread protests by the public and business groups in response to the sharp increase in electricity rates.

Earlier, a protest in Karachi, backed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), called for a decrease in the escalating cost of electricity and the additional taxes levied on top of it.

Speaking to the crowd, JI Karachi Amir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman expressed concern that the situation could worsen if the government did not ease the load on the population. “Our struggle is against the white-collar mafia in KE,” he said, according to The Express Tribune, emphasising the resolve to represent the interests of the people.

Rawalpindi, Pakistan was also the site of a demonstration, with demonstrators there chanting against the Islamabad Electric Supply business.

Lahore, Attock, Peshawar, Quetta, Taunsa, Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Rahim Yar Khan, and Multan were also mentioned in the article as having protested the high cost of power. The demonstrations attracted a considerable audience.

Earlier, The News International said that a survey highlighted how Pakistan is weighed down by expensive projects and commitments that citizens are straining to pay for.

The analysis found that in 2022, Pakistanis paid Rs 721 billion in capacity payments and Rs 41 billion in partial load adjustment charges due to the underutilization of thermal power facilities (at just 46% utilisation).