The federal government has once again passed on the power to the citizens due to inflation which has hit the middle class hard, who were already hardly able to meet their bills but the latest hike has left them reeling.
According to the news in the media, electricity has been made more expensive for domestic consumers, which was expected. Meanwhile the prices of petroleum products have also increased and there is possibilities of increasing the price of oil in the current month which will cost the masses heavily.
Against that petrol pump owners have announced a protest while the people are on strikes against the inflation. If according to the IMF program the price of petrol, gas and electricity continues to climb in the same way then the situation will get worse. The government has increased the basic electricity tariff for domestic consumers by Rs 7.12 to Rs 48 84 per unit. It should be noted that the tariff of protected customers from 1 to 100 units will be increased by Rs. 3.95 to Rs. 11.69 per month, the tariff of protected customers for monthly consumption of 101 to 200 units will be increased by Rs. 4.10 to Rs. 14.16 per unit.
The details of the increase have come out. In the document, it is said that the increase in the basic tariff per unit from 3 rupees 95 p to 7 rupees 12 p has been approved. For non-protected domestic consumers, the tariff for consumption of one to 100 units increased by Rs. 7.11 to Rs. 23.59, while for consumption from 101 to 200 units per month, the tariff increased by Rs. 7.12 to Rs. 30.07 per unit.
The tariff has been increased by Rs. 7.12 to Rs. 34.26 and the tariff for 301 to 400 units per month has been increased by Rs. 7.02 to Rs. 39.15 per unit. The federal cabinet has approved the increase in the basic electricity tariff.41.36 per unit, the tariff for consumption of 501 to 600 units per month will be increased by Rs. 6.12 to Rs. 42.78 while the electricity tariff for 601 to 700 units per month will be increased by Rs. 6.12 to Rs. 43.92 per unit and the tariff for more than 700 units per month will be increased by Rs. 6.12 to Rs. 48.84.
It has been said that Rs 3.95 per unit for Lifeline customers up to 50 units per month, Rs 7.74 per unit for Lifeline customers from 51 to 100 units per month is proposed to be maintained.
According to the document, the tariff for protected customers from 1 to 100 units It is proposed to increase Rs 3.95 to Rs 11.69 per unit, while the tariff for protected customers for monthly consumption of 101 to 200 units will be increased by Rs 4.10 to Rs 14.16 per unit.
After the current inflation, the government should now think how to control the bad effects on the market due to the high cost of electricity. Now it is the responsibility of all political parties to reduce the bad effects on the common citizens. They should put pressure on governments to prevent people from going on strikes. It should be remembered that due to further carelessness on the part of the government, conditions like Azad Kashmir may arise in different cities across the country including Peshawar.
The government needs to keep an eye on these situations. During a week, there have been thousands of protests against the electric providing companies across the country while there has been an increase in incidents of violence and scuffles among the employees and customers.
In these circumstances when it is becoming difficult for the citizens to breathe, burdened with more debt and interest, they may embark on further rebellions which will be more difficult for the government to contain.
It is hoped that the political leadership across the country, which is sitting in power and opposition will come up with small projects in the style of Bangladesh to save the people from inflation so that business and labor can increase. If we examine the economy of the country, at this time trade, agriculture and construction sectors have been completely paralyzed and they will be burdened by expensive electricity, so the employment and labor opportunities in these sectors will decrease further. It is also the responsibility of the finance minister and his team to take some practical measures, mere statements will not work.
