Rehman Malik owes Rs 27 lakh in electricity bills

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has been found to be one of the biggest defaulters who has not paid his electricity bills for nearly five years.u00a0
Malik, however, continues to enjoy uninterrupted power supply. According to electricity bills issued by the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Malik tops the list of federal ministers who have failed to clear their dues which amount to Pak Rs 4.9 million (which is equivalent to Rs 27 lakh).

Bills, bills, bills: Even though Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik hasn't paid his bills for almost five years, he still enjoys uninterrupted power supply. File Pic

Till February 13 this year, arrears against Malik's official residence stood at Rs 4.75 million. His monthly bill for February alone is Pakistan Rs 1,53,788, (Rs 86,000) which also is unpaid. u00a0The outstanding amount increased to Rs 4.92 million which included a Rs 12,000 late payment surcharge. Malik's average monthly bill for 56 months works out at about Rs 89,000.

The federal government provides a monthly allowance of Rs 24,000 per month and any excess has to be paid by the minister or adviser. Ironically, Malik had once volunteered to ensure recovery of the entire electricity dues from defaulters. On June 15, 2012, Malik offered to a nine-member cabinet committee to give him an opportunity to recover all electricity arrears. He had ensured "100 per cent recovery and reduction in load shedding", the paper said.

But Malik is not the only minister among electricity bill defaulters. According to IESCO record, Haji Khuda Bakhsh, Minister for Narcotics Control, has not cleared electricity bills amounting to Rs 1.07 million for 49 months. Minister for Postal Services, Umar Gorgeij, has an outstanding amount of Rs 1.96 million. Dr Fahmida Mirza, the Speaker of National Assembly, has an outstanding amount of Rs 381,266.u00a0

Rs 86,000 Rehman Malik's electricity bill for February alone