A sharp hike in electricity bills has led to public protests across the country with consumers burning electricity bills collectively to express their objection to the exorbitant sums. The protesters are demanding that free electricity is not given to WAPDA employees and other officials because it is the general public who has to bear its burden — something they can no longer do.
We News’ reporter, Bilal Abbasi, has investigated the amount of electricity being used every month by individuals like the Prime Minister, President, Supreme Court and High Court Judges, Federal Ministers, Chairman NAB, Governor State Bank, Senior Bureaucrats and senior government officials.
Here are the details that We News has uncovered:
During presidency, unlimited power unit; after retirement, 2000 units per month
According to the President’s Salary, Allowances and Privileges Act 1975, unlimited electricity units will be provided to the President and after their retirement, the President will be able to use 2000 units per month for free.
After the death of the president, 2000 units of free electricity will be provided to his widowed wife.
Similarly, the Prime Minister of Pakistan is also provided unlimited free electricity.
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and other judges have the right to use 2000 units of electricity during and after their service.
A High Court Judge is provided 800 units of free electricity after retirement.
22 thousand rupees for utility bills to the Federal Minister
As per public perception, electricity provided to federal ministers and members of assembly is free of charge; but that isn’t so. Federal Ministers are paid 22,000 rupees in monthly salary to pay all utility bills, while Members of the Assembly are not paid any amount for any utility nor for their official residence ‘Parliament Lodges’.
Similarly, senior bureaucrats also pay their own electricity bills.
Chairman NAB 2000 units, Governor State Bank unlimited electricity units
Chairman NAB is also provided with free electricity units equal to judges of the Supreme Court. They are provided with 2000 units of electricity per month for free.
The Governor State Bank, however, is provided with unlimited electricity free of cost and the amount is paid by the State Bank. The officers of government institutions are also provided free electricity, but the relevant department/institution pays their bills to WAPDA.
How many billions of rupees of electricity did WAPDA employees use for free in a year?
Heavy units are provided free of charge to WAPDA employees and those working in power generation and transmission.
According to statistics presented by the Ministry of Energy in the Senate Committee, 189,000 WAPDA employees were provided with 34 crore units of electricity for free in a year, using electricity worth 8 billion rupees for free.
How many electricity units are provided free to WAPDA officers?
WAPDA earning officers start getting free electricity units from 16th grade onwards. 16th grade officers are provided with 300 units per month, 17th grade officers with 450 units per month, 18th grade officers with 600 units, 19th grade officers with 880 units per month, 20th grade officers with 1100 units while 21st and 22nd scale WAPDA officers are provided with 1300 per month. These power units are provided free of charge. The perks are provided after retirement as well.
