Islamabad, August 28: Thousands of people across Pakistan have taken to the streets to protest against soaring electricity bills and high taxes imposed by the government at a time when surviving soaring inflation has become impossible for the common man.
Angry demonstrators also burned thousands of electricity bills during demonstrations against electricity fees and high taxes imposed by the government.
“This government has made it impossible for an ordinary man with a small family to manage his family’s expenses by increasing the prices of everything necessary. Now, they are billing us with exorbitant customs duties and taxes. Imagine a house with two fans. We are walking,” said one protester in Rawalpindi. on the right track. Three lights, but the bill is over PKR 20,000. This is unacceptable and we will protest until this deliberate attempt to suck people’s blood stops.”
“On the one hand, there are no jobs, no business, everything is very expensive. On top of that, they are trying to bury us deeper and deeper in the ground by sending us bills that we cannot pay. We reject these bills, tariffs and tariffs.” The protester added: “The taxes we will not pay at all, and we will not allow the authorities to cut off our electricity and take our meters.”
Announcements were also issued by many mosques, calling on local residents not to pay their bills and to protest against the authorities.
In view of the situation, interim Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar held meetings with his government, seeking a solution to the rapidly worsening crisis.
The government asked the authorities to present their recommendations and to inform the Council of Ministers on how to address the issue of customs duties and high taxes.
However, analysts said the situation on the ground is becoming critical every day with more locals showing up frustrated, angry and stressed.
“This can quickly degenerate into utter chaos and chaos, paving the way towards civil war. Citizens are angry, they are aggressive, and they are ready to fight back and challenge the state if necessary. Inflation, taxes, customs duties, and the constant fall in prices,” said Syed Irfan Reza, a political expert and economist. “Jobs, businesses and other means of earning have left Pakistanis completely ignorant and uncertain about the future.”
“Employees of the power sector consumed PKR 8.19 billion worth of free electricity during 2022. These employees used 340 million units of free electricity – a privilege that extends to 189,000 workers,” Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said during a protest. in Rawalpindi.
Jamaat-e-Islami President Siraj-ul-Haq announced massive protests across the country on September 2 against the exorbitant increase in electricity tariffs.
Source: IANS
Disclaimer: This story has not been edited by the WBSETCL team and is auto-generated from syndicated feed.
