Pakistan continues to witness protests as government fails to give relief over inflated power bills

In the cabinet meeting presided over by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday, the interim set-up expressed helplessness on how to address the issue, even on spreading electricity bills in instalments unless the International Monetary Fund cleared it, reports Dawn News.

Interim Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, who didn’t immediately hold a presser after the cabinet’s meeting, later told a private TV channel as quoted by Dawn News that the government was engaging with the IMF regarding relief measures for electricity consumers and an announcement was expected soon.

Bokhari told the media that his country's cabinet made decisions for providing short-, medium- and long-term relief to consumers.

Meanwhile, several regions of Pakistan are witnessing protests over the inflating power bill issue.

Gojra Saddar police on Tuesday registered two cases against 158 people for protesting against inflated power bills and blocking the M-4 at two points between Gojra and Toba Tek Singh interchanges in Pakistan on Monday.

On the other hand, a man allegedly committed suicide at Dijkot near Faisalabad after he failed to pay Rs 40,000 electricity bill, reports Dawn News.

The family of Muhammad Hamza (35), a resident of Sabri Town locality of Dijkot, told police as quoted by the newpaper that he was already at his wits’ end due to financial constraints and the exorbitant electricity bill proved the last nail in his coffin.

He shot himself dead after failing to pay bill.