Stretching the limits: ICCI slams govt over excessive billing

President says increase in power tariffs a nuisance for business community, common man.

ISLAMABAD: Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) strongly protested against ‘excessive billing’ by the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) for the month of August and called upon the government to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

In a meeting of the local business community at the chamber’s headquarters, ICCI President Shaban Khalid said the utility service tariffs across the world are determined keeping in view the purchasing power of citizens. In Pakistan however, the tariffs have gone far beyond the purchasing capacity of a common man.



He added that excessive billing was not only a problem for the common man but also created a nuisance for the business industry as it results in an increase in the production cost which consequently hampers industrial growth, hurts exports and puts burden on the economic growth.

“About 30 to 35 per cent billing is being done in a presumptive manner, which is a great injustice to the nation,” Shaban maintained.

He added that the incumbent government has increased the power tariffs massively which is making their products uncompetitive in the international market.

“The federal minister for water and power has already admitted in writing on the floor of the house that electricity charges in Pakistan are higher in the region and has clarified that a further increase is expected”.

Quoting an example, he said a member of the ICCI, Rehmat Masih, who earns Rs16,000 per month has been sent an electricity bill of Rs18,8863 for August 2014 despite the fact that he only uses a few lights, fans, a fridge and water pumping motor at home. “Masih’s average electricity consumption during the last 12 months was 428 units with the bill of August 2013 being Rs5,142,” he explained.

With almost a 200 per cent increase in electricity bills, one wonders how people could meet the monthly expense of their families after paying such huge hefty bills, he added.

“It seems the decision makers have no concern with the problems of a common man who are being distressed,” he lamented.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2014.