For a second consecutive day, protests were held across the country over exorbitant power bills. In some areas, protesters gathered outside the offices of electricity distribution firms.
Protests were held in Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Sargodha, Shiekhupura and other parts of the country.
In Sargodha, protests were held where traders poured into the streets, blocking roads and announcing civil disobedience and that they would not pay the bills.
They also set their bills on fire.
Bills were also set on fire by lawyers in Sheikhupura.
#ElectricityBills
— صدر آغا👑 (@SaddarAgha) August 26, 2023
کوئٹہ کے انجمن تاجران کی جنرل سیکرٹری سید قیوم اغا دکانداروں کو بہت زیادہ بجلی کے بل کے حوالے سے احتجاجی پرنس کانفرنس کر رہے ہیں@QasimKhanSuri @PTIofficial pic.twitter.com/B3bkRizIYS
Heavy electricity bills Residents of Shaheen Muslim Town, Peshawar, burned electricity bills#electricity #electricitybill #Peshawar pic.twitter.com/aD1Pv4hBHH
— The Friday Times (@TFT_) August 26, 2023
The protests followed similar protests across the country on Friday where protesters had pelted offices of power distribution companies in various parts of the country.
PM takes notice
Taking notice of the protests over inflated bills, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Saturday announced that he had summoned an emergency meeting for Sunday in Islamabad to discuss the price of electricity and bills.
The caretaker prime minister directed the Ministry of Energy and power distribution companies to present a detailed briefing over the issue, PM Office Media Wing said in a statement on Saturday apart from a similar message that the prime minister posted on his social media account.
بجلی کے بھاری بِلوں کے معاملے پر میں نے کل وزیر اعظم ہاؤس میں ہنگامی اجلاس طلب کر لیا ہے۔ اجلاس میں وزارت بجلی اور تقسیم کار کمپنیوں سے بریفنگ لی جائے گی اور صارفین کو بجلی کے بِلوں کے حوالے سے زیادہ سے زیادہ ریلیف دینے کے حوالے سے مشاورت کی جائے گی۔
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) August 26, 2023
The meeting would review provisions for providing the public relief in their electricity bills.