PM announces waiver of power bills for domestic consumers in flood-hit zones

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced a special relief package for flood-affected communities. The package specifically includes the waiver of electricity bills of domestic consumers for the month of August.

In a brief televised address to the nation, the prime minister said, the federal government would bear the cost of payments on behalf of households.

“We fully understand the hardship of flood victims. This payment is not a favour but their right,” he said, adding that those who had already paid their August bills would have the amount adjusted in next month’s bills.

Shehbaz said, clear instructions have been issued to power distribution companies to ensure immediate implementation. He added that assessments were under way to calculate the losses and liabilities of agricultural, commercial, and industrial sectors in the affected areas.

“The recovery of their bills has been suspended for now. If the estimates for these sectors turn out to be higher, the government will take additional steps to provide relief,” he said.

The prime minister described the devastation caused by the floods as ‘heartbreaking’, noting that many people were left without shelter. “This is a humble effort from the government to share the suffering of the victims. We will ensure complete rehabilitation of all flood-affected areas,” he said.

He vowed, the government will not rest until every displaced person is resettled. “May Allah help us in this effort,” he said.

Read More: IMF's nod sought for power relief to flood victims

In an effort to mitigate the suffering of people hit by the worst flooding in decades, the government was considering providing relief in electricity bills to consumers. However, approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was required for this purpose.

The floods in three rivers has so far rendered millions of people homeless and damaged crops on 1.3 million acres of land. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had asked the Ministry of Finance to reach out to the IMF and secure its consent for granting relief in electricity bills in areas affected by the floods, according to government sources.

Following the prime minister's instructions, the ministry held a virtual meeting with the IMF on Friday and sought its endorsement for the waiver, they added.

Pakistani authorities requested the IMF to defer the bills for three months, citing a precedent set in 2022 when similar relief had been offered in flood-affected regions.

Sources said that consumers in the areas covered by the Lahore Electricity Supply Company, Gujranwala Electric Power Company, Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company, and Multan Electric Power Company have been adversely affected by the deluge. Consumers of the Sukkur Electric Power Company will also likely to be impacted.

“The immediate concern is to address the issue of the electricity bills for the month of August, which are now due,” Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Laghari told The Express Tribune. He said the Power Division was collecting data from the affected areas, after which it would be in a position to assess the fiscal requirements for relief.

The prime minister is “very much inclined” to ease the burden on power consumers in flood-hit areas and a formal announcement is expected soon, Laghari added.

Also Read: Over 100 dead as Punjab reels from devastating floods

At least 101 people have died in Punjab due to widespread flooding, officials said, as more than 4,700 villages and around 4.57 million residents have been affected across the province.

Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed of the Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said that about 2.51 million people had been relocated to safer areas.

The South Punjab government has deployed airlift drones to deliver food and medicine to flood victims in inaccessible areas. Officials described the effort as Pakistan’s first emergency airlift drone service, capable of carrying up to 200 kilograms of aid and evacuating people from dangerous locations. Ten more drones will be procured to expand operations.

The Punjab Saaf Pani Authority has so far provided 1.57 million litres of clean drinking water to more than 525,000 people across the province. Yesterday alone, 192,700 litres were supplied.

So far, 392 relief camps, 493 medical camps, and 422 veterinary camps have been established in the hardest-hit districts. Police said over 16,000 personnel, supported by 770 vehicles and 40 boats, have rescued more than 681,000 people and moved 2.019 million livestock to safety.

Inspector General of Punjab Police Dr Usman Anwar said Safe City’s thermal imaging and drone cameras were being used in the operations. Rescue 1122 teams, supported by welfare organisations and philanthropists, continued relocating victims and distributing food, water, and other essentials.

The Pakistan Army is also assisting with evacuations. However, residents reported severe difficulties moving belongings and livestock. The body of a man identified as Akhtar, who drowned while attempting to move animals to safety, was recovered in Uch Sharif.