Consumers using less than 200 units will continue to receive subsidies, says Awais Leghari

Islamabad: Federal Minister for Energy Awais Leghari has said that electricity consumers using up to 200 units will continue to receive government subsidies.

Speaking to the media in the federal capital, Awais Leghari stated that consumers using fewer than 200 units are currently being provided subsidies, and a specific subsidy amount is being adjusted in their electricity bills.

During the press conference, he said that the number of consumers using up to 200 units has exceeded 20 million. He advised subsidy beneficiaries to scan the QR code printed on their electricity bills, adding that efforts are underway to link all consumers with the QR code system.

The Energy Minister further stated that the government will continue providing subsidies to deserving consumers. He criticized politically motivated statements regarding electricity issues, saying that such remarks are often made merely to gain public applause.

Awais Leghari said that electricity prices have declined over the past two years and that the government has reduced circular debt by Rs780 billion. He added that reliance on local energy sources for electricity generation is increasing.

He further stated that electricity meters have been linked to the national identity cards of two million individuals. Reports claiming that subsidies for protected consumers are being discontinued are contrary to the facts.

The minister noted that some individuals who have installed large solar systems and reduced their consumption below 200 units have effectively shifted the burden onto consumers who use more than 200 units and pay their full bills. He said that through the QR code system, eligible consumers will continue to receive uninterrupted subsidies.

According to Leghari, the volume of electricity subsidies has increased from Rs199 billion to Rs423 billion, while subsidies worth Rs527 billion are being provided to the agricultural and domestic sectors. More than two million single-phase consumers have completed their registration. He reiterated that reports about ending subsidies are baseless and that the government's claims regarding reductions in electricity prices are accurate.

He also stated that electricity prices for consumers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir have been reduced by 45 percent. Furthermore, the government has achieved savings of Rs3.5 trillion through revised agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and there is currently no proposal under consideration to impose additional taxes on electricity bills.