Electricity bills’ prices are expected to go up in forthcoming days due to increase in sales tax rate, withdrawal of subsidy & fuel readjustments. Government of Pakistan has suggested in finance bill to take back subsidy of Rs. 34 billion… which was being given to consumers on electricity bills and to increase sales tax from 15% to 16% on electricity bills effective from July 1, 2008 which will be paid by the final consumer. It has been also recommended by the authorities to make readjustment of fuel prices of distribution companies on monthly basis instead of semi annual basis.

In my opinion, upcoming budget is being considered as a “Poor People Friendly Budget” by the officials of Government of Pakistan but it seems that this burden is being shifted to the poor people of Pakistan in different ways i.e. increase in sales tax, withdrawal of subsidy etc. According to survey, more than 72% people of Pakistan are living under poverty line due to the improper policies of previous Government. Those people used to quote fictitious figures to the innocent people to show the prosperity in Pakistan even used to spend a huge amount on maintaining luxury standards and protocols. Reality is that neither previous Government paid full attention towards their problems nor this Government is willing to do so.