Pakistan
Citizens protest against inflated electricity bills in country’s different parts
Large gatherings of people assembled in cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and more, venting their frustration over the substantial power bills they have received over the past two to three months.
Lahore: Citizens hailing from diverse backgrounds staged protests on Friday in major cities across the country to express their dissatisfaction with the government's handling of escalating utility bills.
The noticeable surge in bills can be attributed to the recent hike in the per-unit price of electricity, aligned with the government's commitments to the IMF. This increase, coupled with additional taxes, has fueled public mistrust towards the authorities.
Large gatherings of people assembled in cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and more, venting their frustration over the substantial power bills they have received over the past two to three months.
Traders predominantly spearheaded the demonstrations at most locations, opting to withhold payment of electricity bills that they deemed beyond their financial means. Their primary demand was for the government to alleviate the burden of additional taxes.
KARACHI:
In Karachi, individuals from various sectors partook in protest demonstrations across several areas. A public gathering protesting against K-Electric took place in front of Jama Cloth Market, with traders also lending their support to the cause. Slogans against K-Electric were echoed through banners, posters, and placards, and even the Jamaat-e-Islami participated in leading the protest.
LAHORE:
Protests echoed through numerous localities in Lahore, the provincial capital. Demonstrators vociferously criticized the government for imposing hefty taxes through the electricity bills and urged an immediate reduction in electricity costs.
PESHAWAR:
The citizens of Peshawar voiced their discontent with costly electricity and inflated bills. The residents of areas such as Gulbahar staged a protest at Anam Sanam Chowk, where they symbolically burnt their electricity bills. The demonstrators found unannounced power outages and excessive taxation on their bills to be untenable.
KASUR:
Similar demonstrations took place in Kasur, where citizens burned their electricity bills near Masjid Noor Chowk. Holding pamphlets condemning high electricity bills and inflation, they pleaded for relief from their financial burden.
Protests resonated in various other parts of Punjab, including Narowal, Okara, and Rahim Yar Khan. In Rahim Yar Khan, protestors staged a rally from Dua Chowk to the Mepco office, raising black flags as a symbol of their protest.
RAWALPINDI:
Protesters in Rawalpindi gathered near Liaquat Bagh to decry the exorbitant electricity charges. Brandishing their electricity bills, the demonstrators refused to make payments. They called upon the government to take measures to curtail electricity costs and cautioned that the protest could escalate into a broader movement if their grievances remained unaddressed.