Pakistan: Protests gain momentum countrywide against inflated electricity bills

Every day in Pakistan more people are joining the nationwide protest against excessive electricity prices As a form of protest people are taking to the streets and burning their banknotes ARY News reportedProtests against the exorbitant electricity prices have spread across the entire nation from Karachi to Khyber and some protests are now turning violentPeople in Karachi demonstrated against the excessive bills that KElectric the citys only electricity provider gave out People expressed their displeasure that their bills exceeded their salaries according to ARY News a news channel that operates in PakistanA large number of people demonstrated in Peshawar People declare that they will not remain silent in the face of this injustice Additionally traders from Lahore Square and Ganj Bazaar set fire to power bills to document their protestAt Committee Chowk in Rawalpindi protesters gathered and burned bills as they raised slogans against the government to end the imposition of electricity billsProtesters in Gujranwala besieged the Gujranwala Electric Power Company office in an effort to draw attention to the high cost of electricityOther cities such as Narowal Attock Sargodha and Haripur also saw demonstrations against excessive electricity costsIt should be mentioned that the issue of growing electricity costs was addressed at an emergency meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar at the Prime Ministers HouseCaretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi said that the meeting was held at the PMs office in Islamabad and it went for over two hoursThe details of the meeting would be shared in a press release that will be shared shortly he added according to DawnAs per the prior statement from Pakistans PMO office consultations will be held during the meeting regarding giving maximum relief to consumers regarding electricity billsKakar decided to conduct the emergency meeting as protests have been going on in cities across the country due to the increased electricity bills on the back of a significant increase in the national average tariffAccording to Dawn the premier will seek briefings from the power division as well as power distribution companies Discos to provide maximum relief to consumers in this regardMoreover the government has also made a plan to withdraw subsidised electricity availed by Discos and government officers in grades 17 and aboveThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever