ISLAMABAD: : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally inaugurated the smart app under the initiative ‘Apna Meter, Apni Reading.’
During the opening ceremony in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the annual theft of electricity worth 500 billion rupees is a significant challenge. He mentioned that extensive reforms have been implemented in the Ministry of Energy, but there is still more work to be done. The efforts of the Power Minister to reduce electricity prices were also acknowledged.
The Prime Minister highlighted that strong action has been taken against corrupt mafias, transparent negotiations were held with IPPs (Independent Power Producers), and the Ministry of Power settled circular debt through talks with banks. When fuel prices decreased, electricity tariffs were lowered by approximately 7.5 rupees to provide relief to the public. He emphasized that strategies were devised to prevent increases in electricity prices.
Announcing the removal of television fees from electricity bills, the Prime Minister said, “I announce the removal of the television fee from electricity bills. Electricity consumption is high, but its usage is low—this is a challenge.” He also assured that the country would not discourage solarization efforts. He emphasized that the ‘Apna Meter, Apni Reading’ app is genuinely beneficial for ordinary consumers.
During the event, Energy Minister Owais Leghari stated that transparency in the electricity sector must be ensured. He mentioned that technological measures are ongoing to promote transparency during reforms, and steps have been taken to address issues like over-billing, which resulted in the refund of 110 billion rupees to the public last year.
According to a statement issued by the Power Division, the ‘Apna Meter, Apni Reading’ smart app allows consumers to take a photo of their meter on the scheduled date and upload it through the app. Based on this, their monthly bill will be generated.
The Ministry of Power aims to address issues such as over-billing, incorrect readings, and delays in readings through this app. Consumers will not only be able to monitor their bills but also oversee the reading process themselves.
The statement further explains that if both the consumer and the meter reader upload readings, the lower reading will be prioritized. If the consumer provides a reading on the scheduled day, the meter reader’s reading will not be considered. Only the reading provided by the consumer will be uploaded.
This system is particularly beneficial for users eligible for government subsidies. For example, consumers using up to 200 units typically pay around 2,330 rupees for their bill. However, with the subsidy being affected by even a single unit increase, the bill can rise up to 8,104 rupees. The app aims to ensure that eligible individuals provide timely readings to continue benefiting from subsidies
