The protests against inflated electricity bills are getting out of control and can have severe effects on the government. Enraged citizens have staged protests in parts of the country against exorbitant power bills and load shedding as the interim government mulls to control the situation.
The protestors have taken to the streets to show their anger at the excessive bills. They have vented their frustration and thrashed power utility staff members while many have vowed to not pay their bills. The citizens said the electricity has become so expensive that bills are even exceeding their salaries and they are compelled to sell their assets to pay them.
Many political parties have joined the protests as it is election season. The Jamaat-e-Islami held protests in Islamabad but dozens of activists were arrested. The PPP has announced protests as the momentum keeps growing. The civil society is geared up for protests, saying the masses cannot afford any more taxes. They have been joined by the traders who yield significant power and have threatened to shut down businesses.
The protests prompted the interim prime minister to summon an ‘emergency meeting’ in an attempt to give relief. However, there has been no decision as the government perhaps realizes the commitments made for the IMF bailout. So far, the government has stopped providing free electricity units to officials of power distribution companies. It has been pointed out that WAPDA received one billion rupees of free electricity.
The electricity charges have certainly reached an all-time high. Many citizens are paying for electricity as high as Rs42 per unit. Along with the power tariff, there are government charges and taxes due to which the bills have increased exponentially. The situation is gradually escalating and could soon get out of control. With no respite, there has been no recourse other than taking to the streets.
The protests against the rise in power tariffs and inflated bills could have far-reaching consequences. A leaderless protest by the masses has the potential to bring down regimes and spur revolutions. The government should make stringent efforts to provide relief to the masses and reduce inflated bills before the situation turns for the worse.
