Federal Minister for Energy, Awais Leghari, has called on all provincial governments to abolish the electricity duty currently collected through monthly power bills, effective July 1, 2025. The minister emphasized the need for provincial cooperation to advance the federal government’s ongoing reform agenda and recommended that provinces seek alternative revenue sources instead of taxing electricity bills.

This move comes as part of a broader effort to reduce the financial burden on consumers and streamline the country’s power sector. Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the removal of the Pakistan Television (PTV) license fee from electricity bills nationwide. Speaking at the launch of the “Apna Meter, Apni Reading” app, the prime minister highlighted a series of reforms aimed at lowering costs and improving transparency.

Prime Minister Sharif also revealed that annual electricity theft amounts to Rs. 500 billion, underscoring the urgent need for action. He noted that the government’s push for solar energy is already helping to reduce national power consumption, and reaffirmed continued support for solarization initiatives.

Additionally, the prime minister announced that electricity prices have been reduced by Rs. 4.5 per unit through negotiations with independent power producers, with a further Rs. 7.5 per unit cut resulting from lower global oil prices.