ISLAMABAD: Bitten by one inflated bill after another, people from all walks of life protested in major cities of country against apathy of government.    People turned up in droves in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar and elsewhere to let loose their indignation at authorities for receiving inflated power bills for last two to three months. 
One obvious reason for higher than expected bills is recent increase in per unit price in line with commitments government has made with IMF. Situation has been exacerbated by additional taxes and consequent public distrust of officials.   
At most places demonstrations were led by traders who refused to pay electricity bills which, they said, were beyond their reach. They demanded that government reduce additional taxes. 
KARACHI 
People from various callings staged protest demonstrations in several parts of Karachi. Public protested against K-Electric in front of Jama Cloth Market. Traders also participated in protest.
Protesters holding banners, posters and placards inscribed with slogans against K-Electric chanted slogans. Activists of Jamaat-e-Islami also led protest. 
LAHORE 
Several areas of Lahore, saw protests. Protesters raised slogans against government for burdening masses with heavy taxes in bills and demanded an immediate reduction in electricity cost. 
PESHAWAR 
People of Peshawar also protested against expensive electricity and inflated bills. Residents of Gulbahar and other areas protested at Anam Sanam Chowk where they burnt electricity bills. They said unannounced load shedding and excessive taxes in bills were intolerable. 
RAWALPINDI 
Citizens protested against high cost of electricity near Liaquat Bagh. Protestors flashed electricity bills and refused to pay these. Government should take measures, they said, to reduce cost of electricity. They warned of converting protest into movement if grievance went unheeded. 
KASUR 
Similarly, protests were held in Kasur where citizens burnt electricity bills near Masjid Noor Chowk. Number of citizens, holding pamphlets against electricity bills and inflation, cried out for relief. 
Protests were also held in Narowal, Okara, Rahimyar Khan and other parts of Punjab. In RYK, protesters took out rally from Dua Chowk to Mepco office by raising black flags- symbol of protest.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 26 2023

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