Islamabad:Federal Minister for Energy, Ovais Leghari, informed members during a Senate Standing Committee on Energy meeting chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz that electricity consumers pay Rs. 8 per unit in taxes. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has designated the power sector as a tax collection agent.
Leghari stated that everything in the power sector is linked to dollars, which escalates rupee-based payments. He highlighted a reduction of over 8% in electricity demand.
The Federal Minister pointed out issues related to transmission, stating that instead of cheap electricity, expensive electricity is being used due to transmission problems.
During the committee meeting, the Secretary Power Division revealed that multiple taxes are included in electricity bills, including GST, income tax, advance income tax, extra sales tax, and electric city duty, including TV fees.
Mohsin Aziz commented that the rising cost of electricity has made life difficult for poor people. Whether the poor use electricity or not, they suffer, and industries are shutting down due to expensive electricity. The middle class is also struggling with costly electricity, making electricity in the region the most expensive in Pakistan.
