Public protest over the high electricity bills intensified

Dr Abdul Waheed Mastoi
SUKKUR: Residents of the area protested against the SEPCO abuses, they protested against the relevant sub-division including the SEPCO chief, rioting, burning bills, the abuses from the consumers have increased, cases are being filed against local dignitaries on complaints.
Residents of the area protested against the alleged abuses of Sukkur Electric Power Supply Company (SEPCO) and Bunder Road subdivision staff by holding electricity bills and protesting placards. They also burnt their electricity bills in protest. On this occasion, the protesters said that the SEPCO administration seems to be busy in corruption instead of providing facilities to the consumers. Additional taxes and deduction bills are being sent to the residents of the area and they are being harassed for their complaints.
According to report the price of one unit of electricity was charged 1 thousand 873 rupees, the citizen of Karachi received a bill of thousands of rupees for using only 2 units of electricity. According to the report, the honor of using the world’s most expensive electricity went to Muhammad Rizwan of Karachi. Despite the decrease in the cost of electricity, due to the imposition of last year’s 4-month adjustment in tariff, fuel surcharge, additional surcharge and uniform adjustment of smear sales tax, electric city duty, consumers are receiving double electricity bills.
Something similar happened to Muhammad Rizwan, a citizen of Karachi, who received a current bill of Rs 3747 for just 2 units of electricity, with unknown adjustments adding up the bill to Rs 3747.
It should be noted that the public protest over the high electricity bills intensified, after which a central control room was established in the Power Division for the coordination of all electricity distribution companies across the country.
The officers posted in the control room will liaise with the distribution companies and the IGs and Chief Secretary of the respective provinces in case of deterioration of the law and order situation. The officers posted in the control room will also prepare a detailed report of the damage to the electricity offices as a result of the public response and submit it to the higher authorities. A central control room has been set up from August 25 to August 31.
A Joint Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Section Officers of Power Division will work 24 hours a day in shifts in the central control room. Power Division has issued an office order. It should be noted that after the huge increase in electricity prices across the country, heavy bills and taxes have forced the people to come out on the streets.
Demonstrations are being held by businessmen against the high cost of electricity in most of the small and big cities of the country, demanding the government to reduce the additional tax included in the electricity bills and the ever-increasing cost of electricity. At many places, protesters burnt electricity bills, women are also participating in the protests.