Traders announce nationwide protest against electricity bills on July 1

APTA warns federal govt to abolish additional taxes by June 30 or face further actions

ISLAMABAD:

The All Pakistan Traders Association has announced a nationwide protest against the increase in electricity bills, set for July 1, and warned the federal government to abolish additional taxes by June 30 or face further actions.

Ajmal Baloch, President of the All Pakistan Traders Association, alongside other traders, made this announcement during a joint press conference in Islamabad on Friday. He stated, "The government has committed an injustice regarding electricity bills, and we are declaring a nationwide protest starting from July 1."

Baloch highlighted the discrepancy in billing, saying, "A bill for 200 units is different from that of higher usage. The Independent Power Producers (IPPs), owned by government elites, are being paid in dollars."

He noted that while payments to IPPs are being made for 48,000 megawatts, the actual requirement is around 20,000 megawatts.

Appealing to traders and the public, Baloch urged, "On July 1, traders across the country should protest, and the public should join us. There will be protests on every level and every street."

Also read: Domestic users in for electric shock

He warned the government to abolish the taxes, fixed taxes, and slabs included in the electricity bills by June 30 (Sunday) or else the traders would announce their next course of action on July 1. "The IPP contracts, which burden the budget by Rs2,500 billion, should be reviewed," he added.

Baloch also pointed out the burden of free electricity provided to WAPDA employees being placed on the public.

Vice President of the Central Traders Association Rawalpindi, Tariq Jadoon, and President Rawalpindi Cantonment, Sheikh Hafeez, claimed that WAPDA has installed faster meters, which according to NEPRA's report, are 30% faster.

Khalid Chaudhry, Secretary of the Traders Action Committee Islamabad and Advisor to the President ICCI, called on the government to take notice of these faster meters, as NEPRA’s website reports that distribution companies are exploiting the public by installing these meters.