ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) — Federal Minister for Power Division Awais Leghari has said the government is working to end six-month additional charges imposed on electricity consumers who exceed the 200-unit threshold by even one unit, following criticism from Senator Abid Sher Ali over the burden of higher tariffs on low-income households.
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Speaking in the Senate, Sher Ali questioned the tariff structure, saying that electricity consumption rising from 200 to 201 units could increase the applicable per-unit rate from Rs15 to Rs30. He argued that consumers should not face a substantially higher bill for using just one additional unit.
Responding to Sher Ali’s calling-attention notice, Leghari said the government was considering ending the six-month additional billing burden and might increase the existing consumption threshold from 200 to 250 units.
The minister said the number of electricity consumers using fewer than 200 units had reached 20 million. However, he argued that providing discounts to everyone in this category would not be appropriate because some households have solar installations that reduce their reliance on grid electricity.
Leghari said the government intended to ensure that discounts benefited consumers living below the poverty line.
The proposed changes remain under consideration, and no final decision or implementation date has been announced.
