ISLAMABAD – Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said on Thursdaythat subsidy on electricity bills was not a solution, therefore, peoplewould have to pay their bills.
Speaking to senior journalists on the prevailing power crisis in thecountry and mass protests against inflated electricity bills, Kakar saidthere was a need to diagnose the disease before fining a cure for it. Hesaid the government would follow the agreement with the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF), but the government would announce relief for the powerconsumers within the next 48 hours. He said the government and the IMF werelooking at the electricity bills together.
Kakar said the country was facing a law and order situation, but it was notthat acute. He said the rate of inflation was not too high to go for awheel-jam strike. Clarifying various reports about the use of freeelectricity, the caretaker prime minister said the army was not using freeelectricity. He however said that some Wapda officials were using freeelectricity.
Kakar said the caretaker set-up was holding negotiations with relevantmultilateral institutions. “We are discussing several options and thereflections of these options will soon be announced,” the PM said.
Read Top Stories
The premier’s remarks come as Pakistan faces a host of economic challengesincluding rising inflation, depreciating rupee and declining marketconfidence. In recent days, people from across the country have taken tothe streets against excessive power bills.
