ISLAMABAD: Concerns over fixed charges imposed on electricity bills were raised in the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Tuesday, with lawmakers describing the levy as an unfair burden on consumers and recommending its abolition.
The committee meeting, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, discussed the impact of fixed taxes and charges on electricity consumers across the country.
During the session, committee member Senator Kamil Ali Agha strongly criticized the fixed charges included in electricity bills, arguing that they have become a major financial burden for households and businesses.
“Fixed charges on electricity bills have become a source of hardship for the public,” Agha said. He cited his own lodging business as an example, stating that while the actual electricity consumption amounted to Rs6,200, the fixed charges alone reached Rs6,800.
The senator also questioned the criteria used to determine poverty levels, remarking that recent disclosures suggest a person earning Rs8,500 is no longer considered poor.
Agha further argued that consumers using low amounts of electricity are being unfairly charged. “A person consuming 100 units is effectively paying charges equivalent to 400 units,” he said, urging the committee to declare fixed charges unjust and formally recommend their removal.
Responding to the concerns, Committee Chairman Senator Saleem Mandviwalla remarked that consumers dissatisfied with the charges might be left with little choice but to disconnect their electricity connections.
However, Mandviwalla acknowledged the issue and proposed summoning officials from the Power Division after the federal budget discussions to seek an explanation regarding the rationale behind fixed electricity charges.
The committee is expected to take up the matter in future meetings, with lawmakers pushing for relief measures aimed at reducing the burden of electricity costs on consumers.
