Caretaker Prime Minsiter Anwaar ul Haq Kakar has ordered that free electricity should not longer be supplied to any government emplyees. However, he said that the government would not take hasty steps that could lead to more problems, thereby ruling out immediate relief.

Kakar issued the orders in an emergency meeting that was summoned after protests broke out across the country over the latest electricity bills. The meeting was given a briefing by the power division on what determines the price of electricty in the country.

The PM also ordered that ‘emergency measures’ should be taken to solve electricity theft across the country. A statement after the meeting said officials have been told to develop recommendations to reduce electricity bills in the next 48 hours.

Officials from the power division told the meeting that the full bruden of electricity costs was not being passed on to the consumers.

They also said that only old WAPDA employees are beign given discounted electricity and the practice of free electricity for DISCO employees is being ended.

Officials told the meeting that the cost of electricity in the country fluctuates based on the consumer price index.

KIBOR and fuel price adjustment also have an effect on electricity prices, the meeting was told. Officials added that the price of imported coal had remained between Rs51,000 and Rs61,000 per metric ton.

Power officials also said that payments worth Rs2 trillion have to be made under capacity payments in the next year alone.

However, the officials clarified that increase in electricity prices have not impacted 63.5% of domestic consumers. They added that the icnreases had only applied to consumers using 400 units or more every month.

The officials also said that 31.6% consumers would only have to pay Rs3 to Rs 6.5 more per unit for their electricity. Only 4.9% consumers had to pay Rs7.5 per unit for their electricity.

They also said that the average cost of electricity was Rs31.02 in August 2022 and had risen to Rs33.89 in August 2023.