Latest news with #Rs7.5
Gulf Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
Pakistan's PM announces abolition of monthly Rs35 PTV fee from electricity bills
Tariq Butt, Gulf Today Correspondent Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday formally inaugurated the 'Apna Meter, Apna Reading' power smart mobile application — an initiative aimed at promoting transparency in the billing process by allowing consumers to take their own meter readings and send them to their respective power companies. The prime minister also announced that the Pakistan Television (PTV) fee will be abolished from electricity bills. Consumers are currently charged Rs35 monthly PTV fee through electricity bills. The initiative aims to phase out the role of meter readers in power distribution companies (Discos) across the country amid frustration by power consumers. The current pro rata system removes electricity consumers from the 'protected category' or pushes them into the next slab, leading to higher bills. Speaking at a ceremony to launch the app, the prime minister said the initiative is a revolutionary step undertaken by the government as part of power sector reforms over the past year. 'We implemented reforms in the power sector, but we have a long way to go. We brought merit-based appointments to the boards of Discos, and took strong action against the corrupt mafia,' he said. Shahbaz said that the minister of energy made stringent efforts and held tough negotiations with independent power producers (IPP) that eventually led to reduction in electricity prices by Rs7.5 per unit. 'We settled circular debt after negotiations with banks. When global oil prices were falling, we took advantage and reduced electricity prices,' he said, adding that despite concerns, the government made the tough decision to rebase prices and not pass the burden to consumers. The premier said the biggest challenge is power theft worth Rs500b annually, and efforts are being made to curb the menace. He reaffirmed that the government will not discourage solar power as it is the cheapest form of electricity. 'Pakistan is one of the countries with the largest growth in solar energy production,' he said. Shahbaz said the main beneficiary of this app will be the power consumers. 'It is a revolutionary technology, it will benefit every consumer in every home,' adding that the power division should raise awareness among consumers to use the app, which has been introduced in five languages. Federal Minister of Energy Awais Ahmed Leghari also spoke on the occasion and said the initiative aims to give the responsibility of the meter reader to the consumers. He said power consumers under the 'protected category' consuming less than 100 units received higher bills due to delayed or flawed meter reading. He said the government returned Rs10bn in overbilled amounts last year and efforts are being made to ensure transparency in the billing process.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM unveils app for self meter reading
The minister invited international partners to invest in the nationwide rollout of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), estimating a $3 billion need to serve over 30 million consumers. PHOTO: File Listen to article `Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday officially launched the "Apna Meter, Apna Reading" smart mobile application, a new initiative designed to enhance transparency in electricity billing. The app enables consumers to record their own meter readings and submit them directly to their respective power distribution companies. "We implemented reforms in the power sector, but we have a long way to go. We brought merit-based appointments to the boards of Discos, and took strong action against the corrupt mafia," he said. The premier made these remarks at a ceremony to launch the "Apna Meter, Apna Reading" app. The initiative seeks to gradually eliminate the role of meter readers in power distribution companies (Discos) nationwide, addressing widespread dissatisfaction among consumers. Under the current pro rata system, many consumers are shifted out of the 'protected category' or moved into higher billing slabs, resulting in increased electricity charges. The prime minister maintained that the initiative is a revolutionary step undertaken by the government as part of power sector reforms over the past year. He noted that the energy minister made stringent efforts and held tough negotiations with independent power producers (IPP) that eventually led to reduction in electricity prices by Rs7.5 per unit. "We settled circular debt after negotiations with banks. When global oil prices were falling, we took advantage and reduced electricity prices," he said, adding that despite concerns, the government made the tough decision to rebase prices and not pass the burden to consumers. The premier announced that the Pakistan Television (PTV) fee will be abolished from electricity bills. Consumers are currently charged Rs35 monthly PTV fee through electricity bills. He noted that the biggest challenge is power theft worth Rs500bn annually, and efforts are being made to curb the menace. He emphasized that the government will not discourage solar power as it is the cheapest form of electricity. "Pakistan is one of the countries with the largest growth in solar energy production," he said. The prime minister observed that the main beneficiary of this app will be the power consumers. "It is a revolutionary technology, it will benefit every consumer in every home," adding that the power division should raise awareness among consumers to use the app, which has been introduced in five languages. Federal Energy Minister Awais Ahmed Leghari also spoke on the occasion and said the initiative aims to give the responsibility of the meter reader to the consumers. He pointed out that power consumers under the 'protected category' consuming less than 100 units received higher bills due to delayed or flawed meter reading. He said the government returned Rs10bn in overbilled amounts last year and efforts are being made to ensure transparency in the billing process. In a statement earlier, the Power Division said the new feature allows electricity consumers to take a picture of their electricity meter on a specified date and upload it to the app, based on which their monthly bill will be issued. The aim of this system is to provide an effective solution to long-standing problems such as overbilling, reading errors and delay in reading. "This is not just a technology feature but a concrete reform in governance, which truly empowers consumers. With this system, consumers will not only be able to keep track of their bills, but now they will also be the guardians of the reading process," it added. If the user provides the reading on the due date, the meter reading taken after that day will not be given priority, and only the reading provided by the user will be fed.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Time of India
Jewellery worth Rs7.5 lakh stolen from home in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A house in Bhagat Singh Nagar was broken into on Friday with thieves making off with gold jewelry valued at Rs7.5 lakh. The incident occurred while the family was away from their residence. According to the police, the theft took place sometime between 10am and 6.15pm. Unidentified suspects gained entry into the house and stole all the gold jewelry inside. The victim, a 35-year-old homemaker, filed a complaint stating that she was at her workplace and her son was at school when the housebreaking occurred. Her husband is currently residing in Pune. "The break-in took place in an apartment flat situated in a multi-storey apartment. The thieves must have conducted reconnaissance of the flat and knew that no family members remained present during the daytime," a police officer said. Upon forcing entry through the door, the suspects broke open the cupboard and decamped with the gold jewellery. The Pundalik Nagar police have registered an offence under section 331(3) (house break-in) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Stage Set For Nagpur's First CM Cup U-15 Wrestling Nationals
Nagpur: The indoor stadium of the Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur is all decked up to host Nagpur's first Chief Minister's Cup U-15 National Wrestling Championship from Saturday. The Nagpur District Wrestling Association (NDWA) and the Wrestling Association of Maharashtra will jointly organise the two-day nationals under the aegis of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). As many as 750 wrestlers from 25 states have reached Nagpur, from where 30 top grapplers will be selected to represent India in the Asian Wrestling meet, slated to be played in Kyrgyzstan from July 5 to 13. The competition will be conducted in the Freestyle and Greco-Roman across various weight categories for boys and girls. On the opening day of the nationals, 15 gold medal bouts will be contested. Following the mandatory medical tests and weigh-ins in the morning session, the first bout in the qualifications and repechages will begin from 9.30 am. The formal inauguration of the national championship is scheduled for 5.30 pm. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will inaugurate the championship. On the occasion, MP Murlidhar Mohol, state sports minister Dattatray Bharne, guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, WFI President Sanjay Kumar Singh, and other officials will share the dais. Sandip Joshi, president of the organising committee and MLC, and secretary Piyush Ambulkar, stated that the stage is all set for the first-ever national championship in Nagpur. The organising committee decided to distribute prizes to champion wrestlers, marking the first time cash rewards would be awarded in any nationals. A total prizemoney of Rs7.5 lakh will be distributed to the podium finishers with the winner in each category taking home Rs 11,000 each.
Business Recorder
11-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Eid-ul-Adha 2025: Pakistan tanners say collected more animal skins, hides this year
The Pakistan Tanners Association (PTA) has reported an increase in the collection of sacrificial animal skins and hides after Eid-ul-Adha 2025, with the number rising to over 7.4 million this year, against 7.3 million recorded last year. The association cited a decrease in skins and hides wastages this year as one of the reasons for the increase in the collection, but termed the increase 'unusual' amid a decrease in purchasing power and rising costs of animals. Pakistan Tanners Association demands resolution of issues facing leather industry The PTA said around 5% of skins and hides were wasted this year, compared to 10-15% last year. Source: Pakistan Tanners Association The number of skins and hides collected this year exceeded 7.4 million, 1.4% increase against 7.3 million, according to the PTA estimates. Eid-ul-Adha 2025: trade peaks at Asia's largest cattle market in Karachi The association estimated the worth of the collected 7.4 million skins and hides at around Rs7.5 billion, with a cow hide estimated at Rs1,775, followed by goat, sheep, camel, buffalo skins/hides valued at Rs446, Rs47, Rs578, and Rs1,680 each, respectively. These animals skins and hides are widely used in Pakistan by the leather industry to make clothing, footwear, handbags, and different other products.
