TRADERS’ Associations and the general public on Friday initiated large-scale protests against soaring electricity bills and heavy taxes, with major demonstrations held in major cities including Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi. The protest in Karachi, which was also supported by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), demanded a reduction in the ever-increasing electricity prices and additional taxes imposed through power bills.
The fact of the matter is that the electricity bills are going beyond the reach of the common man. The public’s frustration has been exacerbated by the already challenging economic conditions, where many are struggling to make both ends meet. The burden of electricity bills, often amounting to exorbitant figures, has pushed the people to the brink. The heart of the issue lies not only in increasing electricity tariffs, but also ensuring robust enforcement and efficient recovery mechanisms. Proponents of the protest argue that escalating the cost of electricity would only exacerbate the problem by incentivizing power pilferage. The need of the hour is to strengthen a mechanism that curbs electricity theft and ensures that all users pay their fair share. It is also the failure of successive governments which did not pay much attention to exploiting the indigenous resources to generate cheap electricity. The reliance on imported fuel has made matters worse. The consequences of skyrocketing electricity bills are not confined to individual households. The industrial sector also stands to bear the brunt of this crisis. With electricity costs forming a significant portion of operational expenses, the manufacturing sector’s competitiveness is at risk. As electricity prices surge, the cost of production escalates, rendering locally produced goods less competitive in the global market. This not only affects the growth potential of industries but also undermines the nation’s ability to trade competitively on the international stage. Though the caretaker government has a limited time, yet we expect it to take steps to check pilferage through a sustained campaign and then fast track the renewable energy projects. Reforms in the energy sector have become inevitable to ensure affordability, efficiency and sustainability for the benefit of common man and the nation’s economic growth.
