Rising inflation has severely impacted the public and caused significant distress within the business community. Lahore’s industrialists and traders have voiced their frustrations over expensive electricity, with some threatening to shut down factories and hand over the keys to the government.
An emergency meeting of industrialists and traders was held at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce to protest against Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and high electricity costs. The attendees demanded a forensic audit of IPPs.
Leaders of the Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate Association, Adeel Bhutta and Mian Khurram Ilyas, stated that the high cost of electricity is crippling their businesses. They declared their intention to shut down factories and hand over the keys to the government if the situation did not improve. The industrialists unanimously demanded a review of agreements with IPPs to reduce electricity costs.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz acknowledged the burden of electricity bills on the public, stating that many people’s salaries go towards these bills. She noted that many people in Punjab could not afford their electricity bills. She emphasized the need for accurate family data to ensure relief reaches those who deserve it.
Maryam Nawaz announced plans to introduce solar systems for Punjab residents using up to 500 units of electricity. She stressed the importance of accurate data for decision-making and expressed hope that the government would have the necessary data within a year to provide targeted relief. She highlighted the challenge of making informed decisions without adequate data, particularly regarding the socio-economic categories of Punjab’s 130 million residents and the number of people owning their own homes.
