The matter of substantial electricity bills for the general public contrasted with the provision of free electricity units to government officials has been brought before the Supreme Court in Islamabad.
A concerned citizen named Saeeda Begum has lodged a petition with the Supreme Court, urging swift intervention to cease the allocation of complimentary electricity units to employees across various departments.
Saeeda Begum’s petition addresses the issue of disparate treatment, where specific segments enjoy free electricity benefits while the public faces significant bills. The petition calls for the annulment of the practice of granting free electricity and fuel entitlements to all institutions, including members of the judiciary and parliamentarians. Additionally, it seeks the cancellation of taxes imposed on electricity bills and proposes their recovery from Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
The petition highlights that the prior government exempted IPP boards from electricity taxes, despite personnel in the electricity department receiving salaries. The restoration of electricity slabs is advocated for the public’s convenience, ensuring alignment with the principle of equal facilities for all citizens as enshrined in the Constitution. The petitioner has personally encountered an electricity bill exceeding 54 thousand and is grappling with an inability to settle it despite exhausting all available resources.
