JI demands end of slab system in power bills, cancel IPP agreements

Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) in Lahore, expressed his concerns about the electricity pricing and capacity charges in Pakistan. He highlighted that the country's electricity production capacity stands at 42,000 megawatts, while the consumption is around 32,000 megawatts. He criticized the Independent Power Producers (IPPs), alleging that they profit under every government and called for the cancellation of their agreements.

Rehman also opposed the current slab system of electricity billing, arguing that it unfairly burdens consumers with high taxes and demanded its removal to lower power prices. He emphasized the right to affordable electricity without excessive taxes and demanded that the government stop charging for unused electricity capacity. Furthermore, he criticized the government for not implementing the installment plan for electricity bills for consumers using up to 200 power units, which had been promised by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif but was stalled due to IMF demands. Rehman urged the government to stop making empty promises and take concrete actions to address these issues.