Protests Surge Across Pakistan Over Electricity Bills: Demonstrators Demand Relief Amid Escalating Tensions

People protest at the Novelty Bridge in Faisalabad against the price hike of electricity and inflation across the country

PESHAWAR/RAHIM YAR KHAN/HAFIZABAD: A wave of fervent protests, driven by the contentious issue of inflated electricity bills, has engulfed multiple regions of Pakistan for the third consecutive day. As this movement gains momentum, trending words like "protests," "tariffs," and "relief" have become synonymous with the nation's outcry.

Citizens, already grappling with the effects of soaring inflation, have taken to the streets in various cities, raising their voices against exorbitant increases in electricity rates and additional taxes. The ongoing unrest, which has taken hold in locations like Peshawar, Rahim Yar Khan, and Hafizabad, has escalated to a point where the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) has now requested police protection, fearing potential clashes.

In response to these escalating tensions, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar has summoned an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister’s House. The urgency of the situation has prompted this discussion, set to take place on Sunday at 3:30 pm, to find solutions to the mounting concerns.

The meeting's agenda, as highlighted by the PM office's post on X, includes presentations from the Ministry of Energy (Power Division) and distribution companies. The aim is to formulate strategies to alleviate the burden on consumers in relation to their electricity bills. This initiative is a direct response to the directives of Prime Minister Kakar.

In correspondence to the Capital City Police Chief Syed Ashfaq Anwar, Pesco has emphasized the necessity of police deployment in seven sub-divisions, including Khyber Circle and Hayatabad 2, among others. The company's request arises from the fear that incensed protestors could potentially engage in acts of vandalism and disrupt public order.

Citizens' discontent has also manifested through road blockades and symbolic acts of defiance. In Rahim Yar Khan, protestors blocked main roads, while in Chunian city, individuals set their electricity bills ablaze in a powerful display of dissent.

This growing movement is unified by a common demand: a reduction in electricity tariffs and the removal of excessive taxes on utility bills. Citizens and traders alike have vowed to withhold payments until their demands are met, showing a determination that spans from Faisalabad and Lahore to Risalpur and Nowshehra district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The escalating situation has even drawn concern from political quarters. Parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) have openly criticized the tariff hikes and additional taxes, echoing the sentiments of the demonstrators.

MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui expressed heightened concerns during a press conference, suggesting that the protests could potentially transform into riots. Siddiqui stressed the government's responsibility to take immediate relief measures to address the pressing issues faced by power consumers.

Amid this turmoil, the backdrop of the tariff hike is being scrutinized. Back in July, the federal cabinet sanctioned a substantial increase in the base tariff of electricity. This decision, aimed at augmenting revenue collection for loss-making power distribution companies, was greenlit against the backdrop of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority's (Nepra) tariff determination.

While Nepra cited factors like devaluation, inflation, and new capacities as reasons behind the hike, it's evident that the move was aligned with International Monetary Fund (IMF) directives for structural reforms in the energy sector. This escalation in tariffs, combined with additional surcharges and levies, has sparked nationwide frustration.

As Pakistan's citizens continue to demand relief from the burden of electricity bills, the nation remains on edge, with protests and discussions at the forefront of public discourse.