LAHORE: Nawaz Sharif, the president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Sharif and a former prime minister, declared on Friday that the Punjab government will lower the energy cost for consumer bills in August and September to Rs14 per unit. Last week, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) stated that power rates will increase by Rs2.56 per unit. This is the second consecutive increase in the wake of growing electricity bills; in May, there was a hike of Rs3.33 per unit for fuel adjustment.
Because they were pushed outside of the monthly ceiling and consequently paid higher rates than their actual usage justified, lifeline customers (using 51–100 units per month) and those in the protected category (using up to 200 units monthly) were disproportionately impacted by the inflated bills. The former prime minister praised his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, for organizing the program when they spoke at a joint news conference in Lahore.
Nawaz stated, “Those who use 200 units have received relief in their bills.” According to Maryam, the hot weather has resulted in increased bills. As a result, she has ordered a relief package that would lower client bills in August and September. A decrease of Rs14 per unit would be given to those who consume between 0 and 500 units. The former premier, who was removed from office in 2017, bemoaned the enormous rise in living expenses since his last term in office. He claimed that during his prior regime, power bills totaled Rs 1,600.
“I spoke at the Minar-i-Pakistan on October 21 and I spent a lot of time talking about electricity bills and comparing the prices then with the prices now,” Nawaz stated. “I recognize the suffering of others. “I can’t stop thinking about 2017 when there was no inflation, prosperity was widespread, and people could make ends meet. Individuals could live their lives with ease. He recalled that at the time, individuals could purchase veggies for just Rs. 10 per kilogram.
Not only had his government “remedied this country’s problems but made it one of the fastest-progressing in the world,” he continued, adding that Pakistan was “about to default” when the PML-N came to power in 2013. “Until I was removed from office, the dollar remained at Rs104,” he said. “Some judges removed me because I stole 10,000 dirhams from my son.”
The former prime minister asserted that the economic downturn of the nation during the previous seven years was largely caused by his removal. “They took me out when people paid Rs 1,600 for bills; now they pay Rs 18,000; they are unable to send their children to school due to the inability to pay the fees,” he said.
“The people who ousted me have caused great hardship to the average citizen and damaged the country,” Nawaz asserted, recalling that it was under his administration that he “shook hands and bid farewell to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)” The head of the PML-N continued, saying that although Imran Khan restored the IMF loans after he took power, he was the one who said goodbye to them. We were not under the IMF’s authority. Should I be able to continue serving, the dollar would remain at Rs 104.
Nawaz continued, saying that the public had direct evidence of his government’s resolution to load shedding. He mentioned his collaboration with current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the chief minister of Punjab at the time, saying, “We used to work day and night to make sure these power plants were built.” CPEC was introduced during my government.
“How can the poor afford this? The bills are Rs 18,000 today,” the former premier bemoaned the power hikes. They don’t have enough money to feed their kids because their whole wage is used to pay their debts. To do this, he declared, the Punjabi government would reduce expenditures and reallocate funds from development initiatives. “Maryam, well done,” he told his daughter. “As much relief as possible has been provided by this government. The cost of reducing the power tariffs is Rs 45 billion. Nawaz further declared that a program to supply solar panels to the public would be launched in the future.
He elaborated, saying, “This will give them a further reduction in their bills.” The scheme, which targets the lower-middle class, will cost Rs. 700 billion. He claimed that people would experience relief and mental clarity as well as a decrease in expenditure. “I commend PM Shehbaz and the Punjabi administration. He ought to work with other provinces in addition to Punjab to supply solar panels.
