In a significant development, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hasgiven its approval to a relief initiative amounting to Rs 15 billion, whichis aimed at providing financial respite to electricity consumers inPakistan.
Insider sources have disclosed that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)played a pivotal role in securing this relief from the IMF, exceedingexpectations by collecting an impressive surplus of Rs 20 billion in taxes.
The IMF’s decision to grant this relief package of Rs 15 billion, intendedto alleviate the financial burden on electricity consumers, stands as atestament to the commendable performance of the FBR.
This approval highlights the unwavering dedication of key figures in thecaretaker government, including Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar,Caretaker Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, and Caretaker EnergyMinister Muhammad Ali.
This relief package is anticipated to offer significant benefits toconsumers with electricity consumption of up to 200 units. Within thiscategory, consumers can look forward to experiencing relief ranging from Rs3 to Rs 4 per unit on their electricity bills. Additionally, provisionswill be in place to accommodate delayed payments, ensuring that theseconsumers do not incur penalties for late payments.
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It’s important to note that the IMF has set a condition that consumersexceeding 400 units of electricity consumption will not be eligible forthis relief. The final approval for deferred payments and the reliefpackage will be granted by the Federal Cabinet.
This relief in electricity bills will specifically apply to bills for themonth of August, and it is estimated that at least 64 percent of thoseusing up to 200 units of electricity nationwide will benefit from it, withlate payments in this category no longer incurring the usual 10 percentpenalty
