Pakistan is considering changes to its electricity tariff structure to ease the burden on households that exceed the monthly consumption limit of 200 units by even a single unit, Federal Power Minister Awais Leghari told the Senate.
Speaking during a Senate session on electricity tariffs imposed by distribution companies, Senator Abid Sher Ali questioned why consumers using 201 units faced higher rates than those consuming 200 units.
Sher Ali said the existing system could impose a substantially higher bill on households for using just one additional unit. He argued that the structure placed an unfair burden on low-income consumers.
Government Considers Ending Six-Month Penalty
Responding to the concerns, Leghari said the government was working to eliminate the six-month period during which consumers who exceed the 200-unit threshold face higher electricity charges.
Tiger Shroff Firing Case Police Probe Alleged Plan to Locate Emraan Hashmi’s Home
The minister also said the government could consider increasing the threshold from 200 to 250 units. However, he did not announce a final decision on the proposed changes.
The move aims to address concerns over sudden increases in electricity bills when household consumption crosses the existing limit.
Around 20 Million Consumers Use Fewer Than 200 Units
Leghari told the Senate that approximately 20 million consumers used fewer than 200 units of electricity each month.
However, he said the government could not automatically extend discounts to every household in this category. Some consumers record lower electricity consumption from the national grid because they use solar power.
The minister said the government would ensure that electricity discounts reached people living below the poverty line.
The proposed changes remain under consideration. Any revised consumption threshold or change to the six-month penalty would depend on the government’s final decision.
