Following widespread protests across Pakistan, including the capital city, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has introduced an installment offer for its customers.
Dr. Muhammad Amjad Khan, the Chief Executive of IESCO, made the announcement, stating that the company’s offices have been instructed to provide installment plans to customers who are unable to pay their bills in full at once.
Dr. Khan encouraged IESCO customers to visit their local Sub-Divisional Offices, Revenue Offices, or Customer Service Centers if they have any concerns regarding their bills. The decision to offer installment plans comes after recent protests in several Pakistani cities against a significant increase in electricity prices, further burdening individuals already grappling with inflation.
The protests, sparked by a call from Jamat-e-Islami, saw citizens taking to the streets in cities like Karachi, Rawalpindi, Attock, and Gujranwala. The demonstrators demanded that the government roll back additional taxes on electricity and recent tariff hikes.
In Karachi, traders participated in the protests, some even resorting to burning symbolic electricity bills to express their dissatisfaction. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, the leader of JI Karachi, addressed the protest rally, warning of potential escalation if the government continued to impose financial strain on the people. He advocated for taxing landlords instead of burdening the already struggling populace.
In Rawalpindi, protestors gathered on Murree Road after Friday prayers, chanting slogans against the Islamabad Electric Power Supply Company to voice their discontent.
The move by IESCO to introduce installment plans seeks to alleviate the financial strain on consumers by offering them a more manageable way to settle their electricity bills amid challenging economic circumstances and rising costs.
