Rising electricity bills have been a cause of much pain and angst this month, with consumers taking to social media to share how much they are being billed despite lower use of units.
With many refusing to pay bills, people in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and many other cities poured onto the streets against the bills and many on social media expressed that bills not be paid.
After protests on the streets began to take place against the rising cost of electricity, caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar called for an emergency meeting at the Prime Minister’s House to discuss the issue.
Senior journalist Hamid Mir also took to social media site X (formerly known as Twitter) to share a copy of bill reportedly of a Wapda employee who despite consuming 1,248 units was charged only PKR 716.00. “The burden of these Wapda and Disco employees’ bills is also being borne by the public which are battered by inflation. When will the subsidy given to them stop?” wrote Hamid.
Saeed Ahmed Bhalli also took to X to share his thoughts focusing on free units granted to WAPDA employees.
Using the hashtag #Electricitybills, Bhalli broke down the electricity perks given to WAPDA officials:
- Grade 20 to 22 officers are given 1300 free units per month
- Grade 19 officers are given 800 free units per month
- Grade 18 officers are given 600 free units per month
- Grade 16 to 17 officers are given 450 free units per month
- Grade 11 to 15 officers are give 300 free units
- Grade 5 to 10 officers are given 200 free units per month
- Grade 1 to 5 officers are given 100 free units per month
This led to further outrage which has reportedly led the government to decide to strip Grade 17-22 officers of their free units of electricity.