Pakistan abolishes electricity duty in bills to ensure tariff transparency

Pakistan abolishes electricity duty in bills to ensure tariff transparency
Muhammad Noshad, a Pakistani employee of the state-run Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), takes a meter reading with his smartphone at a commercial building in Islamabad on November 7, 2018. (AFP/File)
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Updated 30 June 2025
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Pakistan abolishes electricity duty in bills to ensure tariff transparency

Pakistan abolishes electricity duty in bills to ensure tariff transparency
  • The move aims to simplify the billing structure, make it easier for consumers to manage power costs
  • It follows launch of a mobile app that allows power consumers to record, submit their meter readings

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has abolished electricity duty in power bills from the month of July, the country’s energy ministry said on Monday, in a bid to ensure transparency in tariff.

Power Minister Awais Leghari had written letters to chief executives of all provinces and informed them about the decision to discontinue the collection of electricity duty, according to the ministry.

He said high electricity tariffs were already a challenge and the additional burden of various levies further complicated the billing structure, making it difficult for consumers to manage their power costs.

“As part of this initiative, the Power Division has decided to discontinue the collection of electricity duty through electricity bills starting from July 2025,” Leghari was quoted as saying.

“We request provincial governments to explore alternative mechanisms for collecting provincial levies and duties, rather than relying on electricity bills as a collection channel.”

He said the federal government was making structural reforms to reduce tariffs such as renegotiating contracts with Independent Power Producer (IPP) and lowering the Return on Equity (ROE) for government-owned power plants, according to the energy ministry statement.

Leghari sought support from the provincial chief ministers in removing the complexity arising from multiple charges, taxes and duties being collected through consumer bills.

“He expressed the confidence that this will not only make electricity bills more transparent and easier to comprehend but also ensure that consumers are paying only for the cost of electricity, rather than a mix of other charges,” the statement read.

Pakistan has aggressively pursued reforms in its energy sector recently, which has long struggled with financial strain due to circular debt, power theft and transmission losses. These problems have led to blackouts and high electricity costs throughout the country, especially during the summers when demand peaks.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a mobile application that allows power consumers to record and submit their meter readings themselves, with the government saying the initiative will lead to more transparency in the system and reduce overbilling.

Electricity bills are generated in Pakistan every month by readings obtained from power meters installed at homes and businesses. These readings show the number of electricity units consumed during a monthly cycle and are taken by meter readers employed by power companies.

Pakistani power consumers have frequently complained of overbilling and incorrect readings taken by meter readers.

“This app... is a revolutionary technological reform whose benefit will reach every consumer in every home,” Sharif said at the app’s launch. 


Stitching freedom: How Hindu women in Sindh are tailoring a future beyond poverty

Stitching freedom: How Hindu women in Sindh are tailoring a future beyond poverty
Updated 9 sec ago
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Stitching freedom: How Hindu women in Sindh are tailoring a future beyond poverty

Stitching freedom: How Hindu women in Sindh are tailoring a future beyond poverty
  • Powered by a Rs2 million loan, BRIT Women’s Garment Unit supplies leading garment exporters
  • For Hindu women in rural Sindh, the factory offers rare financial independence and dignified work

MIRPURKHAS, PAKISTAN: In the quiet town of Sufi Colony on the outskirts of Mirpurkhas, the hum of 20 sewing machines fills the air each morning as women gather for work at the BRIT Women’s Garment Unit. 

Among them is 25-year-old Sanjana Dileep, the fastest stitcher on the floor, a divorced mother of one, and one of the four women who co-own the factory.

“In the factory we manufacture suits and jackets that are exported,” Dileep said, her voice calm but proud. “We do a variety of sewing there.”

Launched with a Rs2 million ($7,000) interest-free loan under the Sindh government’s People’s Poverty Reduction Program (PPRP), BRIT has become a symbol of what financial inclusion can mean for marginalized women, especially in Hindu-majority villages where caste, religion and gender often intersect to limit opportunity.

“Earlier, we were living in poverty … But now we are doing this work that fetches us a good salary,” Dileep told Arab News, saying she now supports an extended family of eight, including a cancer-stricken uncle.

In rural Sindh, female labor force participation stands at just 10.8 percent, compared with 49.1 percent for men, according to the Pakistan Labour Force Survey 2020‑21.

In Mirpurkhas district, where the BRIT factory is located, over 1.68 million people live, more than 70 percent in rural area, with a literacy rate of just 34.8 percent among women. Social indicators show that 37 percent of children in the district are engaged in child labor, the highest rate in Sindh.

In this context, the BRIT Women’s Garment Unit offering stable income and skill development represents a rare opportunity for personal and community uplift.

On average, women at the BRIT unit earn around Rs25,000 ($88) per month, a life-changing income for families in southern Sindh. The garments they stitch — cargo jeans, jackets, and other apparel — end up in supply chains that serve global brands like Izod and NewYorker, through large Karachi-based exporters such as Apex Garments and H. Nizam Din & Sons.

“We have 20 machines right now that are fully occupied as some of these females are training while others are working,” said Mohan Das, a project supervisor. 

He said the unit is planning to scale up to as many as 100 machines.

“WORK WITH DIGNITY”

In Mirpurkhas district, where employment, especially for women, is rare and often informal, the BRIT initiative has opened a new path.

Hindu women, who typically work as housemaids or on farms, now have access to structured jobs and a degree of independence.

“The Hindu community here is very poor and women usually work as housemaids in the village so we thought about setting up a plant like what we have established, this BRIT female garment plant,” said Das.

Eighteen-year-old Madhu Omprakash joined BRIT a month ago. She is now one of its fastest learners.

“This job is giving a lot of [financial] support to my family and we are doing this with dignity,” she said, explaining that she took the job to help pay for her education and support her widowed mother and two younger sisters.

She dreams of becoming a doctor.

Another tailor, Kaushila, was found stitching inner linings for export jackets, her arms wrapped in traditional colorful Thari bangles. 

“I am sewing about 15 to 20 pieces daily that are of different rates and fetch me as much as Rs800 [about $3] a day,” she said.

The factory currently produces around 5,000 pieces each month, earning about Rs600,000 ($2,100) for its owners. The CMT (Cut, Make and Trim) model enables them to partner with larger firms that supply pre-cut fabric and export the finished goods.

“Yes, absolutely, we produce export products,” Das said. “We bring [cut clothes] from Karachi’s big companies like Apex, Emaan, Zohra and manufacture it for further exports.”

But the global economic picture is changing. 

Das says uncertainty in international textile demand, especially from the US, has affected their export pipeline.

“Our business has shrunk and that’s why we have focused on local sales,” he said. “Our female tailors don’t sit idle.”

Marketing manager Lal Chand said the team is now approaching local brands such as Mama’s Choice and Al Jobat Garments and exploring the possibility of building their own export platform to bypass middlemen.

“We are planning to create our own export platform and manufacture products to directly export,” he said.

Syed Shahanshah, district manager of the Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), which implements the PPRP program, said BRIT is among several microenterprises the eight-year initiative helped launch before it formally concluded in June 2025.

“Our ultimate objective is to promote job creation, livelihood improvement and poverty reduction,” he said. “The kind of awareness this community has got — we are receiving different business plans from them. This project has a future in the eyes of the government and I am sure about its expansion.”

Dileep, too, believes the project is just beginning.

“I belong to the Hindu community and we want to expand this factory as this is benefitting us,” she said.

“Earlier my father and brother used to work, but now we too are working and earning money. That really excites us.”


Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win but Bangladesh take T20 series

Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win but Bangladesh take T20 series
Updated 6 min 57 sec ago
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Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win but Bangladesh take T20 series

Mirza, Farhan star in Pakistan win but Bangladesh take T20 series
  • Farhan’s 41-ball 63 studded with five sixes and six fours got Pakistan off to a strong start
  • Mirza, playing only his third international, demolished Bangladesh’s top order with his 3-19

DHAKA: Paceman Salman Mirza grabbed three wickets and opener Sahibzada Farhan struck an aggressive fifty in Pakistan’s consolation 74-run win in the third T20 on Thursday as Bangladesh took the series 2-1.

Mirza, playing only his third international, demolished Bangladesh’s top order with figures of 3-19 as the home team was bowled out for 104 in 16.4 overs in Dhaka.

Farhan’s 41-ball 63 studded with five sixes and six fours got Pakistan off to a strong start and Hasan Nawaz clubbed 33 off 17 balls to help them to 178-7 after they were sent in to bat.

Mirza struck with the second ball of the innings, dismissing Tanzid Hassan caught behind for nought which triggered a batting collapse. Only Mohammad Saifuddin contributed a score of note as he made an unbeaten 35.

Mohammad Naim (10) was the only other Bangladesh batsman to reach double figures.

Seamer Faheem Ashraf took 2-13 and Mohammad Nawaz wrapped up the win with the final two wickets.

“I am very proud of my team,” said Pakistan captain Salman Agha.

“This is what we talked about as a team, no matter what situation we are in, we want to show character.”

Bangladesh skipper Litton Das praised his’s team effort in the series win.

“We played some good cricket and it’s great to win a series against Pakistan,” said Litton, who also led the team to a T20 series win in Sri Lanka last week.

Having already won their first-ever T20 series against Pakistan with victories in the first two matches, Bangladesh rested five of their main players including spearhead Mustafizur Rahman.

Pakistan had scored 110 and 125 in the first two matches — also in Dhaka — losing by seven wickets and eight runs respectively.

Farhan, who replaced Fakhar Zaman as one of two changes for Pakistan, put on 82 for the opening stand with Saim Ayub (21).

Farhan fell in the 12th over to spinner Nasum Ahmed who finished with 2-22 in his four overs. Pace bowler Taskin Ahmed took 3-38.

Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with 27 off 16 balls down the order to help Pakistan add 46 runs in the last five overs.


Pakistan’s Imran Khan decries lack of ‘meaningful momentum’ behind party’s Aug. 5 protest

Pakistan’s Imran Khan decries lack of ‘meaningful momentum’ behind party’s Aug. 5 protest
Updated 29 min 8 sec ago
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Pakistan’s Imran Khan decries lack of ‘meaningful momentum’ behind party’s Aug. 5 protest

Pakistan’s Imran Khan decries lack of ‘meaningful momentum’ behind party’s Aug. 5 protest
  • In latest message from prison, Khan warns any party member found engaging in “factionalism” will be expelled
  • Khan’s party has warned its nationwide anti-government protest campaign will reach its “peak” on August 5

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan this week said he did not see any “meaningful momentum” building behind his party’s anti-government protest scheduled for Aug. 5, urging members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to set aside their differences and unite. 

Reports of a rift within the party began to emerge after Ali Amin Gandapur, a close Khan aide and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister, announced on July 13 that a 90-day “do-or-die” protest drive against the government is underway. The protest call, however, appeared to contradict an earlier demand for a nationwide protest posted on Khan’s official X account, which the party says will reach its “peak” on Aug. 5. The day marks the second anniversary of Khan’s imprisonment on corruption charges.

Speculation of conflicts within the party further grew after senior PTI leader and Punjab Chief Organizer Aliya Hamza Malik publicly voiced concerns on X about a lack of clarity around the campaign after Gandapur’s announcement. Malik questioned the origin of the 90-day plan and asked for details on the party’s strategy to secure Khan’s release.

In a message shared last week through his official X account— which Khan does not operate as he is in jail— the PTI founder instructed his party leaders and supporters to avoid airing their personal differences on media. 

“Let me make this absolutely clear: every member of the party must immediately set aside all internal differences and focus solely on the movement planned for August 5th,” a message shared from Khan’s account read on Thursday. “I do not see any meaningful momentum building behind this initiative at present.”

Khan’s message said the public had voted for the PTI in the 2024 February national election despite the party losing its electoral symbol. He said after receiving such a “clear mandate,” it is the moral and political responsibility of every party member to “become the voice of the people.”

“It will be nothing short of disgraceful and condemnable if PTI leaders waste time on internal conflicts at this critical juncture,” his message read. “Anyone found engaging in factionalism within the party will be expelled.”

The PTI alleges it won the 2024 national election but was denied victory through massive rigging, a charge the election commission and Pakistan’s government have both vehemently rejected. The party also accuses the government of denying Khan basic human rights in prison, allegations that have also been rejected by authorities. 

Pakistan’s government accuses Khan’s party of sabotaging its efforts aimed at reviving the country’s economy by staging violent protests. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar earlier this month dismissed the PTI’s protest call as a “political gimmick.”

“PTI has lost street power and its credibility, and is heading toward irrelevance,” the minister had said.

Khan’s party has led several anti-government protests since the cricketer-turned-politician was ousted in a no-confidence vote in April 2022 and jailed in August 2023. One of these protests included a march by thousands of supporters to Islamabad in November 2024 to demand Khan’s release from prison and challenge the legitimacy of the February 2024 general election.

The government says four troops were killed during the protests after clashes between Khan supporters and law enforcers erupted in several parts of the country. The PTI denies it instigated its workers to clash with law enforcers. 


Pakistan, Türkiye discuss regional security issues amid deepening defense cooperation

Pakistan, Türkiye discuss regional security issues amid deepening defense cooperation
Updated 24 July 2025
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Pakistan, Türkiye discuss regional security issues amid deepening defense cooperation

Pakistan, Türkiye discuss regional security issues amid deepening defense cooperation
  • Inaugural meeting of Pakistan-Türkiye Joint Standing Committee on Security, Defense and Intelligence held in Islamabad, says foreign office
  • Islamabad, Ankara have eyed greater defense collaboration after Türkiye’s public support for Pakistan during its recent conflict with India

ISLAMABAD: Officials from Islamabad and Ankara discussed regional and global security issues on Thursday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said, as both countries eye greater collaboration in defense and other sectors.

A delegation of Turkish officials led by the country’s Director General for South Asia Ambassador Cihad Erginay met a Pakistani delegation headed by Additional Secretary (Afghanistan & West Asia) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Syed Ali Asad Gillani. The two sides met during the inaugural meeting of the Pakistan-Türkiye Joint Standing Committee (JSC) on Security, Defense and Intelligence.

The joint committee was created after the seventh session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) between Pakistan and Türkiye on February 12 and 13, Pakistan’s foreign ministry said.

“Both sides discussed emerging geo-political trends including global and regional security issues,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

It said discussions at the joint committee will contribute to preparations for a meeting of the joint commission between the two nations, which will be co-chaired by Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and Türkiye’s foreign minister.

“Both countries continue to work closely across a broad spectrum of areas, including defense, trade, energy, transport, culture, tourism, education, defense industries, agriculture, health, science and technology,” the statement concluded.

The development takes place amid deepening relations between the two countries and follows Türkiye’s public condemnation of Indian cross-border strikes in Pakistan during a brief conflict between the two South Asian neighbors in May.

Both countries have maintained close military ties in recent years. Under a 2018 agreement, Türkiye is delivering four MILGEM-class corvettes to the Pakistan Navy, with two built in Istanbul and two at Karachi Shipyard under a technology transfer arrangement.

The first vessel, PNS Babur, was delivered in 2023.

Türkiye’s foreign and defense ministers also arrived in Pakistan earlier this month for a series of high-level meetings focusing on counterterrorism, defense cooperation and broader strategic ties.

Pakistan’s Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad attended the 17th International Defense Industry Fair in Istanbul on Wednesday.

The top Pakistani general held separate meetings with the defense ministers of Türkiye and Azerbaijan to discuss bilateral security cooperation, the Pakistani military’s media wing said.


Pakistan expresses solidarity as plane crash in Russia’s far east kills 48

Pakistan expresses solidarity as plane crash in Russia’s far east kills 48
Updated 24 July 2025
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Pakistan expresses solidarity as plane crash in Russia’s far east kills 48

Pakistan expresses solidarity as plane crash in Russia’s far east kills 48
  • Russian state media says error by plane’s crew while landing in poor visibility could be likely reason for crash
  • Accidents, especially involving aging planes in Russia’s far-flung regions, are not uncommon in the country

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday extended his condolences to President Vladimir Putin and the people of Russia after a passenger plane crashed in the country’s far east region killed all 48 on board.

Russia’s Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies and Disaster Relief said on Thursday the An-24 plane, operated by Siberia-based Angara Airlines, dropped off radar screens while approaching its destination, Tynda, a town in Russia’s far east Amur region bordering China.

According to Russia’s state-owned TASS news agency, an error by the plane’s crew while landing amid poor visibility could be one of the likely reasons for the crash.

“On behalf of the people of Pakistan and myself, I extend our deepest condolences to President Vladimir Putin and the Russian people on the tragic loss of lives in the passenger plane crash in eastern Russia today,” Sharif wrote on social media platform X.

“We stand in solidarity with the bereaved families in this moment of profound sorrow,” he added.

Russian state media showed images of the reported crash site, showing debris scattered in a dense forest surrounded by thick plumes of smoke.

While Russian aviation safety standards have improved in recent years, accidents, especially involving aging planes in far-flung regions, are not uncommon. In July 2021, all 28 people on board an Antonov An-26 twin-engine turboprop died in a crash in Kamchatka.

In September 2021, an aging Antonov An-26 transport plane crashed in the Russian far east, killing six.