Pakistan Ends Free Electricity for Power Officials: What You Need to Know

Effective December 1st, Pakistan has ended the longstanding practice of providing free electricity to its power officials, including employees of DISCOs, GENCOs, WAPDA, and NTDC. This move comes after the federal cabinet approved monetizing the free electricity units previously offered to these employees.

What Does This Mean?

Instead of receiving free electricity units, power officials will now receive a monthly utility allowance based on their grade. This allowance aims to compensate them for the cost of their electricity consumption.

Changes for Different Grades:

• Grade 17: The monthly utility allowance will be Rs. 15,858, replacing the previous 450 free units.
• Grade 18 to 21 (DISCOs): The monthly allowance will be Rs. 21,996, Rs. 37,594, Rs. 46,922, and Rs. 55,536, respectively.
• Grade 17 (GENCOs): The monthly allowance will be Rs. 24,570.
• Grade 18 (GENCOs): The monthly allowance will be Rs. 26,460, replacing the previous 700 free units.
• Grade 19 to 21 (GENCOs): The monthly allowance will be Rs. 42,720, Rs. 46,992, and Rs. 55,536, respectively.

Moving Forward:

This decision signifies a shift in Pakistan’s approach to electricity subsidies, aiming to achieve greater financial efficiency within the power sector. It is important to note that the employees of the aforementioned power companies will now be responsible for paying their monthly electricity bills.

With this change, Pakistan joins other countries in transitioning away from free electricity for employees, aiming to promote a more sustainable and equitable energy sector for all.