The federal government given some relief to flood affected households by giving them an extension on electricity bill payments to residents in the Punjab flood.
Awais Leghari, Federal Minister of Energy, announced that the power supply will continue to be cut off in areas badly hit before the safety of the people could be guaranteed. He underscored the fact that the government has refunded Rs100 billion to consumers over last years overbilling and that there is no current overbilling.
According to Leghari, electricity tariffs are lowered and the power industry is going back to normal. There is an effort to bring electricity to the regions that were affected by the Punjab flood and the priority is hospitals and emergency services and basic facilities.
Power supply is restored in several feeders in Swat, Buner and Shangla and efforts are still underway in other flood-affected regions. Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) has donated Rs20 million in aid of flood victims.
The extension of bill payments by the government is included in wider efforts of helping households affected by the Punjab flood. These involve tracking the distribution of electricity, funding financial aid, and transparent billing to the consumers.
