ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has clarified that the government has no plans to withdraw electricity subsidies for protected consumers using up to 200 units of electricity per month.
Addressing journalists in Islamabad, the minister said that eligible consumers will continue to receive financial relief through the existing subsidy mechanism, which is reflected directly in their monthly electricity bills.
Leghari noted that the number of consumers benefiting from the protected category has surpassed 20 million nationwide. He added that electricity bills now feature QR codes, enabling consumers to access relevant information and services more efficiently. The government is working to extend the QR code system to all electricity users across the country.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting low-consumption households, the minister said subsidies would remain available for deserving consumers despite ongoing discussions surrounding power sector reforms.
He criticized what he described as the politicization of energy-related issues, stating that inaccurate claims are sometimes made for political gain rather than public awareness.
Highlighting recent improvements in the power sector, Leghari said electricity tariffs have shown a downward trend over the past two years, while circular debt has been reduced by approximately Rs780 billion.
The minister also revealed that around two million electricity meters have been linked with consumers’ national identity cards as part of efforts to improve transparency and monitoring.
According to Leghari, reforms introduced in the energy sector are beginning to produce tangible results. He claimed that electricity bills for domestic consumers have fallen by 16 percent, while protected consumers have witnessed a reduction of nearly 32 percent in their monthly bills
