Pakistan gov’t says no relief in power bills as protests escalate
1 year, 3 months ago

Pakistan gov’t says no relief in power bills as protests escalate

Al Jazeera  

Islamabad, Pakistan – The government of Pakistan has expressed its helplessness to lawmakers in the face of inflated power costs, surging fuel prices and fast-rising inflation, as public resentment risks bubbling over with multiple protests across the country. Interim Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar told members of Pakistan’s upper house of parliament on Wednesday that the country has no “fiscal space” to provide any immediate relief to the public. Following the IMF agreement, Pakistan’s power regulator also increased the national average tariff by around five rupees per unit and another upward revision was sought by the government earlier this month. Earlier this month, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said he will immediately seek suggestions from his government for providing “maximum relief” to consumers. Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi also reacted to the public protest in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying that peaceful protest is the public’s right but that the government will not allow “violent attacks”.

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History of this topic

Power crisis in cash-strapped Pakistan, Karachi residents hit streets over 12 hr-long outages
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Power crisis in cash-strapped Pakistan, Karachi residents hit streets over 12 hr-long outages

Firstpost  

Residents of Pakistan’s Karachi staged protests after they faced over 12 hour power outages and water supply cuts on a daily basis. They say scheduled and unscheduled load-shedding have significantly disrupted water supply in the region Residents of Pakistan's Karachi have complained of facing power cuts of over 12 hours everyday. Water supply disrupted by power cuts According to a …

It Can Cost More to Power a House Than Rent It in Pakistan
4 months, 1 week ago

It Can Cost More to Power a House Than Rent It in Pakistan

Live Mint  

-- Electricity bills have outpaced home rental rates for some people in Pakistan, as tariff increases and other reforms to comply with IMF loan conditions spark nationwide protests. The South Asian nation — where nearly half the population survives on less than $4 a day — has seen electricity prices surge 155% since 2021, after the government started hiking industrial …

Skyrocketing power bills draw protests near Pakistan’s capital
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Skyrocketing power bills draw protests near Pakistan’s capital

Associated Press  

ISLAMABAD — Protests over skyrocketing power bills shut down a major road into Pakistan’s capital on Monday as some 3,000 supporters of a major Islamist party continued a sit-in despite pouring monsoon rains. “I don’t know how to run the kitchen; now half of my salary is going to energy bill.” Hundreds of supporters of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party, mainly …

Making Sense of Recent Mass Protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir
6 months ago

Making Sense of Recent Mass Protests in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir

The Diplomat  

On May 13, violent clashes erupted in the so-called Azad Jammu and Kashmir of Pakistan-administered Jammu and Kashmir between civilians led by the AJK Joint Awami Action Committee and paramilitary Rangers. Days after the clashes, AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq said that his government had accepted the JAAC’s demands and that the federal government would provide relief to the …

‘How will I pay?’: Steep power bills, rising inflation hit Pakistan’s poor
1 year, 3 months ago

‘How will I pay?’: Steep power bills, rising inflation hit Pakistan’s poor

Al Jazeera  

Millions of Pakistanis say they have been forced to ration the use of fans and other essential electrical items since the rise in tariffs. The government has categorically said prices will not be lowered as the effects of tough economic decisions taken since the IMF bailout become devastating for Pakistan’s poor. ‘Forced to ration use of fan’ Burhan Anwar, a …

More turmoil in Pakistan: Why Karachi residents are left with dry taps
1 year, 3 months ago

More turmoil in Pakistan: Why Karachi residents are left with dry taps

Firstpost  

A power failure was reported on Monday at the Dhabeji pumping station, which supplies water to the entire city of Karachi. The water scarcity comes at a challenging time for the country already reeling from an electricity crisis Pakistan could potentially be facing a water scarcity in addition to a power crisis. “Everyone is participating because the situation has become …

Pakistan: Citizens, traders hold nationwide strike over souring electricity, fuel prices
1 year, 3 months ago

Pakistan: Citizens, traders hold nationwide strike over souring electricity, fuel prices

India TV News  

Pakistan inflation : The traders and the citizens of the cash-strapped Pakistan held a nationwide strike on Saturday to protest against the sky-high electricity and fuel prices in the country that have sowed widespread discontent ahead of the general elections. According to Geo News, thousands of traders kept their shops shut over the recent hike in electricity bills that have …

Pakistan shopkeepers strike nationwide over inflation
1 year, 3 months ago

Pakistan shopkeepers strike nationwide over inflation

The Hindu  

Thousands of Pakistan traders shuttered their shops on Saturday, striking over soaring energy and fuel bills stirring widespread discontent ahead of national elections. "Everyone is participating because the situation has become unbearable now," Lahore's Township Traders Union president Ajmal Hashmi told AFP. On Friday, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said citizens would have to pay inflated bills as …

Pakistani traders strike countrywide against high inflation and utility bills
1 year, 3 months ago

Pakistani traders strike countrywide against high inflation and utility bills

Associated Press  

ISLAMABAD — Pakistani traders on Saturday went on strike against the soaring cost of living, including higher fuel and utility bills and record depreciation of the rupee against the dollar, which has led to widespread discontent among the public. If they don’t consider our problems, we will devise further strategies, said Fahad Ahmed, a trader in Karachi, adding, “If you …

Pakistan’s Shopkeepers Observe Nationwide Strike over Inflation, Soaring Electricity Bills
1 year, 3 months ago

Pakistan’s Shopkeepers Observe Nationwide Strike over Inflation, Soaring Electricity Bills

News 18  

Thousands of Pakistan traders shuttered their shops on Saturday, striking over soaring energy and fuel bills stirring widespread discontent ahead of national elections. “Everyone is participating because the situation has become unbearable now,” Lahore’s Township Traders Union president Ajmal Hashmi told AFP. “Some relief must be given so people can put food on the table.” Traders wield immense power in …

Pakistan caretaker PM Anwarul Haq Kakar calls inflated electricity bills "non-issue"
1 year, 3 months ago

Pakistan caretaker PM Anwarul Haq Kakar calls inflated electricity bills "non-issue"

The Hindu  

Pakistan Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar called the matter of inflated electricity bills, which have led to the countrywide protests, a “non-issue”, Dawn News reported on September 2. Mr. Kakar also said it was raised by some political parties and was a “tool in their election campaigns.“ It is not a very serious issue, but political parties are in …

Pakistan Protests Inflated Electricity Bills: Man Commits Suicide, People Set Bills on Fire
1 year, 3 months ago

Pakistan Protests Inflated Electricity Bills: Man Commits Suicide, People Set Bills on Fire

News 18  

A man in Pakistan’s Faisalabad allegedly committed suicide after he failed to pay an electricity bill amounting to PKR 40,000 on Tuesday. Pakistan is burning as protests against inflated electricity bills are drawing ire from the common man. In Pakistan’s Sargodha, the Sargodha Chamber of Commerce and Industry and district bar association while a large number of the general public …

Photos: Protests across Pakistan against high electricity bills
1 year, 3 months ago

Photos: Protests across Pakistan against high electricity bills

Al Jazeera  

Protests against high electricity bills in Pakistan have grown after the government refused to slash energy prices without a nod from the International Monetary Fund. A massive increase in the price of electricity triggered protests across major cities last week, with people burning utility bills, blocking highways and attacking power companies’ offices. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has promised relief, …

Cut my AC connection if needed: Pakistan PM amid outcry over electricity bills
1 year, 3 months ago

Cut my AC connection if needed: Pakistan PM amid outcry over electricity bills

India Today  

Amid a public outcry over inflated electricity bills, Pakistan's interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar held an emergency meeting on Sunday during which he directed authorities to devise "concrete steps" within the next 48 hours for a reduction in electricity bills. "I represent the common man,” the prime minister said, pledging that measures would be implemented to minimise electricity …

300-unit of free power: Year on , 83% households in Punjab getting zero bill
1 year, 5 months ago

300-unit of free power: Year on , 83% households in Punjab getting zero bill

Hindustan Times  

Nearly 83% of the domestic consumers in the state have benefitted from the 300-unit free electricity scheme, which commenced on July 1 last year. A year after the launch, the tentative data shows that consumers got benefits to the tune of ₹ 6,000 crore for zero bills, a promise made by the Aam Aadmi Party during the 2022 elections, and …

Punjab's 'Current Affairs': Power Tariff Hike Sparks Protests by Opposition, Industry Representatives
1 year, 7 months ago

Punjab's 'Current Affairs': Power Tariff Hike Sparks Protests by Opposition, Industry Representatives

News 18  

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved an increase in power tariff for this year in the state, sparking off protests by opposition parties and Industry representatives. While domestic consumers, who will get 300 units of free power each month, will have to pay Rs 15 per kilowatt as additional fixed charges, the per unit tariff has been increased …

Pak inflation skyrockets to 47%, essential prices soar: Report
1 year, 8 months ago

Pak inflation skyrockets to 47%, essential prices soar: Report

Hindustan Times  

Pakistan's economic crisis continues to worsen with each passing day. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the inflation based on sensitive price indicator has been recorded at 47 per cent year on year at the week which ended on March 22. The price of onions in Pakistan have increased by 228.28 per cent, cigarettes by 165.88 per cent, wheat …

Mint Explainer: Pakistan's power crisis has echoes elsewhere
1 year, 10 months ago

Mint Explainer: Pakistan's power crisis has echoes elsewhere

Live Mint  

The recent blackout across Pakistan is a reminder of the enormous energy crisis confronting Islamabad. A fast-growing India too can’t afford to be complacent, as the acute power shortage in April last year demonstrated, more so as it competes with coal and natural-gas rich Asean countries like Vietnam and Indonesia to gain from China’s decline and emerge as a manufacturing …

Ready to assist Pakistan address its power woes, says US
1 year, 11 months ago

Ready to assist Pakistan address its power woes, says US

Firstpost  

Washington: The US is ready to assist Pakistan in resolving its electricity woes, a top official in the Biden administration has said, hours after the South Asian country faced a nationwide power breakdown due to a “frequency variation” in the national grid. According to the Ministry of Energy, the system of frequency of the national grid went down at 7:34 …

Pakistan begins restoring power after grid breakdown triggers worst electricity outage in months
1 year, 11 months ago

Pakistan begins restoring power after grid breakdown triggers worst electricity outage in months

India Today  

Pakistan's government began restoring power to millions of people on Monday after a breakdown in the grid triggered the worst electricity outage in months and highlighted the weak infrastructure of the heavily indebted nation. As evening drew on and homes were without electricity in the dark, Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir wrote on Twitter that authorities had started restoring power across …

First no food, now no power in Pakistan: The country’s worsening situation explained
1 year, 11 months ago

First no food, now no power in Pakistan: The country’s worsening situation explained

Firstpost  

The situation in Pakistan is worrying. ابتدائی اطلاعات کے مطابق آج صبح 7:34 پر نیشنل گرڈ کی سسٹم فریکوئنسی کم ہوئ جس سے بجلی کے نظام میں وسیع بریک ڈاؤن ہوا سسٹم کی بحالی پر کام تیزی سےجاری ہے — Ministry of Energy-Power Division, Government of P January 23, 2023 According to Power Minister Khurrum Dastagir, the grid failure followed …

Twitter lights up with memes as Pakistan suffers major power outage. Best ones
1 year, 11 months ago

Twitter lights up with memes as Pakistan suffers major power outage. Best ones

India Today  

Pakistan faced major power disruption on Monday after the national grid suffered a breakdown. According to a report by Reuters, Power Minister Khurrum Dastagir informed that the disruption was caused by a large voltage surge in the south of the grid. Take a look at some of the hilarious posts we compiled for you: "Generators are too far from the …

Electricity becomes almost unaffordable in Pakistan as govt hikes rates again
1 year, 11 months ago

Electricity becomes almost unaffordable in Pakistan as govt hikes rates again

Firstpost  

Islamabad: Pakistan is facing a severe economic crisis these days. Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Authority has increased electricity rates by Rs 3.30 per unit. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority of Pakistan said that it has adjusted the K-Electric tariff under the Uniform Tariff Policy. The power division also said that KE is providing electricity at Rs 43 per …

Pakistan planning to reduce timings of markets and wedding halls to reduce electricity consumption in the country
1 year, 11 months ago

Pakistan planning to reduce timings of markets and wedding halls to reduce electricity consumption in the country

Op India  

The Pakistan government on Tuesday announced plans to reduce energy consumption nationwide whereby it proposes to close markets by 8:30 pm and wedding halls by 10 pm, in view of the rising circular debt in the energy sector. “The plan will change the overall lifestyle and habit pattern of the nation and save us Pkr 60 billion,” Pakistan Defence Minister …

Pakistani finance minister estimates 'close to three years' for recovery from devastating floods
2 years, 2 months ago

Pakistani finance minister estimates 'close to three years' for recovery from devastating floods

Firstpost  

Ishaq Dar said that losses from the floods were estimated to surpass $32 billion and that the cost of rebuilding damaged infrastructure will exceed $16 billion Washington: Pakistan’s new finance minister estimated that it could take “close to three years’’ for the south Asian country to recover from devastating floods that killed more than 1,700 people and displaced another 7.9 …

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