PM Announces Waiver of August Electricity Bills for Flood-Hit Areas

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced that the electricity bills of August for all domestic consumers in flood-affected areas will be completely waived.

In an address to the nation, the premier said the unprecedented rains and flooding had caused widespread devastation across the country, claiming lives, destroying homes, livestock, and livelihoods. He said the federal and provincial governments, along with the people and the army, were carrying out joint rescue and relief operations.

The prime minister said the waiver decision was aimed at easing the hardships of flood-hit citizens. “My brothers and sisters, we fully understand your difficulties, and in this testing time, the federal government will bear the cost of your electricity bills. This is the rightful due of the flood victims,” he remarked.

He added that domestic consumers in affected areas who had already paid their August bills would be refunded in their September bills, and clear instructions had been issued to electricity distribution companies.

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The prime minister said a detailed assessment was being carried out regarding agricultural, commercial, and industrial consumers in the affected regions. The collection of their August bills had been deferred, he said, adding that further relief measures would be announced once the losses were fully evaluated.

Calling the waiver a humble effort from a “Khadim-e-Pakistan”, Mr Sharif pledged full rehabilitation of the flood-hit areas and assured that he would not rest until every affected family was resettled.