Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has taken notice of excessive electricity bills sent to consumers and has formed an investigative committee headed by his adviser on water and power, Mussadiq Malik to probe the matter and submit a report to the cabinet by September 19.
The prime minister took the decision when federal ministers protested over excessive bills and demanded the prime minister to help resolve the difficulties of the people.
Sources said that federal ministers Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Abbas Afridi, Sardar Mohammad Yusuf and others raised the issue of inflated billings. The prime minister said he has also received a report in connection that higher electricity bills were sent last month.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that people living in two room houses and flats were sent bills of Rs 15,000 to 20,000 which was a serious mistake on the part of meter readers and senior officials.
Nisar said that people who can hardly pay a bill of Rs 500 have been sent bills of Rs 5, 000. He suggested that if investigation is held for bills of Rawalpindi district, the situation would become clear.
Water and Power Secretary Nargis Sethi said as there was less load shedding during the particular period, bills would have gone up. However she said that as the prime minister has ordered, an investigation would be carried out.