Islamabad, August 28, 2023 – The federal cabinet of Pakistan’s caretaker government is poised to take action to alleviate the burden of inflated electricity bills in a meeting scheduled for August 29, 2023.
Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to providing relief to the public in the wake of soaring electricity costs.
Speaking on Monday, Minister Solangi stressed that the government’s primary focus is on mitigating the financial strain on consumers, rather than assigning blame for the high electricity rates. The caretaker government, which took office on August 17, 2023, expressed concern over the inflated electricity bills that were issued for the month of July.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has already taken note of this issue, underlining the caretaker government’s responsibility to address the problem promptly. Minister Solangi revealed that the matter would be brought before the Federal Cabinet in their upcoming meeting, where strategies to provide relief to the public without infringing upon the terms of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program would be explored.
Minister Solangi conveyed the government’s commitment to making decisions in favor of providing relief to the masses. He further disclosed that the Prime Minister had already engaged with key stakeholders to address this issue effectively.
Responding to inquiries, Minister Solangi urged the media to inform the public about the factors contributing to the increase in electricity bills. He stressed the importance of transparency in this matter, given the country’s already heightened political climate.
In addressing concerns regarding the upcoming general elections, Minister Solangi assured that the caretaker government is fully dedicated to facilitating peaceful and fair elections in collaboration with all political parties, adhering to the schedule set by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He added that the government would provide necessary assistance to the electoral watchdog for the smooth conduct of the elections. The duration of the caretaker government, he noted, would be determined by the ECP.
Minister Solangi also highlighted the ECP’s schedule, which has been established in line with decisions made by the Council of Common Interests and Article 51 of the Constitution. He urged the public to differentiate between peaceful and violent protests, emphasizing the importance of maintaining order during this critical period.
As the government gears up to tackle the issue of inflated electricity bills, the nation awaits further details on the proposed relief measures that will be discussed in the Federal Cabinet meeting on August 29, 2023.
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