By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: On Sunday, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori urged Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to introduce a subsidy on electricity bills similar to the recent initiative announced by the Punjab government. Governor Tessori’s call comes amid criticism from various political factions regarding the selective provision of relief, raising concerns about equity among provinces.
Addressing the media, Governor Tessori emphasized the need for Sindh to emulate Punjab’s example, where the provincial government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, announced a Rs14 per unit reduction in electricity bills for consumers using up to 500 units during August and September. This relief package, unveiled two days earlier by Nawaz Sharif, President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was praised by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as a “historic” measure to ease the financial burden on the public.
The initiative has, however, faced criticism from other provinces. Political leaders from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have accused the Punjab government of playing the “provincial card” in national electricity policy matters. They argue that providing relief to only one province could foster regional resentment and deepen disparities.
Governor Tessori echoed these concerns, warning that failing to provide similar relief to Sindh’s residents could lead to widespread dissatisfaction. “Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah should allocate funds from the provincial budget to provide the same Rs14 per unit relief in electricity bills that Punjab has extended to its citizens,” Tessori urged. Tessori also expressed deep concern over the impact of recent torrential rains in Sindh, which have devastated several areas and left many residents homeless. “We are sending ration bags to those affected by the floods,” Tessori announced, adding that he plans to personally visit the flood-hit regions to assess the situation.
In the context of these challenges, Tessori highlighted that no provincial funds were used for recent events at the Governor House, including the cash prize awarded to Arshad Nadeem for his gold medal victory in Javelin Throw. The issue of rising electricity costs has become a focal point in Pakistan’s ongoing economic crisis. Last month, the federal government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, raised the base tariff for domestic consumers to Rs48.84 per unit, following approval from the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra). This increase, which affects consumers nationwide, was met with widespread public outcry, though users consuming up to 200 units per month were temporarily exempted for three months.
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