Punjab, Sindh take different steps to provide relief in power bills

LAHORE/KARACHI: The Punjab cabinet approved a relief of Rs46 billion in electricity bills for the people of Punjab and Islamabad here on Thursday.

The decision was taken in the 14th meeting of the provincial cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. “Alhamdulillah, the promise of giving relief to people in electricity bills has been fulfilled,” said CM Maryam while paying tribute to Nawaz Sharif for giving the much-needed relief to people.

“This is a huge relief in electricity bills, which has never been given before,” she said adding that “with this relief, two million electricity bills have reached consumers so far. On every bill, it is written that the original bill was this one, and after the relief by the Punjab government, it has been reduced so much.” She said more than 1.5 lakh consumers of Islamabad are also being given relief in their electricity bills.

Maryam said, “Relief in electricity bills is an urgent measure while solar panel project is being launched for sustainable relief. Electricity relief is not a favour to people, it is their right.”

The CM said, “It is our responsibility to solve problems of every citizen of Punjab. We are with them and will continue to support them.”

She said: “Others advertised our relief of Rs46 billion in electricity bills to people, for which I thank them. I was surprised to see their concerns over Punjab’s public relief. Press conferences were held but I must thank them for promoting our project in the public.”

The cabinet also approved Punjab’s first comprehensive Climate Resilient Punjab Vision and Action Plan 2024 following a briefing by senior provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

The cabinet lauded Minister for Construction and Communications Sohaib Malik and Secretary Sohail Ashraf for saving Rs10 billion through e-tendering of construction projects. The cabinet approved the formation of Punjab Zakat and Ushr Council. It dissolved the existing Punjab Baitul-Mal Council and approved the establishment of new Baitul-Mal Council. The cabinet also approved leasing government land to Al-Shifa Hospital for eye treatment in Lahore. Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz launched the ‘Back to School’ campaign and formally launched the enrolment registration campaign for young girls at the Government Kinnaird Girls’ High School, Empress Road. She also inaugurated the Smart Classroom Project.

Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticised the Punjab power bill relief, saying Maryam Nawaz’s announcement was akin to the Imran Khan government announcing a Rs20/litre cut in petrol prices in 2022 when he was facing threats of the no-confidence motion. He said he failed to understand why the PMLN government in Punjab had taken a hasty decision of offering only an interim economic relief for two months when it was not facing any compulsion like the PTI government.

While speaking as the chief guest at a ceremony held here at the Chief Minister’s House to distribute solar home systems, Bilawal criticised the Punjab government’s decision, terming it an unsustainable relief measure. The PPP chairman said they did not want any temporary relief measures, especially when people would continue to suffer economic hardships for the rest of the year. He directed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to contact Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on relief in electricity bills for people of the entire country. He also directed the Sindh CM to study the Punjab government’s relief programme to ensure power supply to people at reduced rates. “We are ready to follow the federal government after leaving aside our relief measures if the federation convinces us about its plans to slash the cost of electricity. But if it could not persuade us, then the federal government should support us,” added Bilawal.

He said his party sought a sustainable solution to the electricity issue. The green energy option would be utilised to bring down electricity rates for the masses. Bilawal lamented that not just the countrywide electricity system is in a shambles but no federal agency has been working efficiently. He said that owing to FBR’s failure, the government was compelled to add higher taxes to the electricity bills.

He said the solar energy option would be utilised to gradually provide free electricity to the low-income families in Sindh consuming up to 300 units of power to fulfil his electoral promises. Thar coal project was one such initiative to achieve cheap electricity, he added. He pointed out that K-Electric was receiving the cheapest electricity from two Sindh government plants. Moreover, the Sindh government was making additional investments in wind power and encouraging the private sector. He also disclosed that work was underway on three energy parks in Sindh under public-private partnership.