The caretaker federal cabinet of Pakistan has decided to seek approval from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to provide relief to power consumers by reducing electricity bills.
The Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Murtaza Solangi, stated that the caretaker Finance Minister, Shamshad Akhtar, is currently engaging with the IMF to discuss this relief plan.
Solangi confirmed that talks are ongoing between the caretaker finance minister and the IMF. The caretaker government aims to gain the confidence of the IMF before finalizing any decisions. The government plans to make decisions about the relief on electricity bills shortly after securing the IMF's approval.
However, an earlier meeting of the federal cabinet, led by caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar, failed to reach a decision on providing relief for inflated electricity bills.
Sources suggest that during the cabinet meeting, it was emphasized that the IMF agreement needs to be consulted before granting relief to the public.
In response to public outcry over the surge in electricity prices, Energy Minister Muhammad Ali held discussions with the Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to explore options for alleviating the burden on power consumers.
Another session was later convened, and attended by representatives from the Ministry of Water and Power and power distribution companies.
On a previous occasion, Caretaker PM Anwaarul Haq Kakar had set a 48-hour deadline to formulate a strategy in response to the increasing public concern over rising electricity costs.
