Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar-led on Thursday said the caretaker government will announce relief in the electricity bills within 48 hours.
Presiding over a cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, the premier mulled over proposals regarding relief provisions for the public in the wake of a nationwide outcry against the exorbitant power bills.
During the meeting, caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar apprised the session regarding ongoing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the Washington-based lender’s conditions are widely considered to be the primary factor behind sky-high energy tariffs.
During the meeting, the premier was also briefed on current economic indicators along with various other issues including the need to take concrete measures against smuggling, and illegal foreign exchange rackets in light of an already weak and depreciating rupee.
Meanwhile, terming overseas Pakistanis as “assets”, PM Kakar lauded the role played by overseas Pakistanis in the country’s development and directed immigration and customs officials to facilitate them.
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The meeting was attended by various federal ministers including Interior Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, FinMin Akhtar, Federal Minister for Commerce Gohar Ejaz, Governor State Bank Jameel Ahmad, along with various industrialists and representatives from the business community.
The cabinet-level huddle comes in the wake of ongoing countrywide protests over skyrocketing electricity bills and soaring inflation.
Earlier today, traders across the country demonstrated against massive hikes in electricity tariffs as the caretaker government expressed helplessness to provide relief due to strict IMF conditions.
