ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to scrap the Rs35 Pakistan Television (PTV) licence fee that is added to every electricity bill, senior officials said. The formal announcement is expected soon.
According to the report, the fee, charged to more than 40 million domestic, commercial and industrial consumers, brings in about Rs1.5 billion each month — nearly Rs16 billion a year — for the state‑run broadcaster. Ending it will give immediate relief to households already struggling with rising power prices and inflation.
Officials said the step responds to long‑standing public complaints and is meant to “reduce the financial burden on the common man”.
Middle‑ and lower‑income groups, who have repeatedly asked for cuts in utility costs, welcomed the move. Details of how PTV will be funded in future are likely to be shared when the prime minister speaks.
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In a separate development, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved a Rs1.50 per‑unit reduction in the base electricity tariff for the 2025‑26 financial year.
The rate will fall from Rs35.50 to Rs34.00 per unit from 1 July 2025. NEPRA has also cleared a revenue requirement of Rs3.52 trillion for distribution companies, including Rs3.066 trillion for bulk power purchases and Rs454 billion for financial adjustments.
Together, the removal of the PTV fee and the future tariff cut are expected to ease pressure on electricity bills across the country, including in Karachi.
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