I was shocked to see my electricity bill for the current month, amounting to rupees 27,668. I am a government pensioner, living in little known Sector O-9, Zone V, on the periphery of Islamabad. I have 5 members in my family, we use eclectic appliances, which every house has, and in addition to that we have only energy savers and fans. Knowing that the electricity prices are high we used the air conditioner sparingly. I don’t think that any meter reader visited this far-flung part of the capital of Pakistan, near Loibhir Wildlife Park. Consumers are sent estimated bills.
As a law-abiding citizen, I will pay this bill by the due date, moreover there is fear of disconnection. Now overbilling has become a routine, and reportedly Prime Minister is also cognizant of this practice of IESCO. When there is no accountability and no checks and balances why should anyone care?
Media has carried news that the over burdened poor are selling blood to pay electricity bills; a widow committed suicide, because the concerned authorities refused to correct her bill. This is not an extreme reaction by low income consumers of electricity. I contacted ‘IESCO Helpline’ for lodging a complaint without any success. Frustration is also driving people mad. I have discontinued my medical treatment, pathological tests, hospital visits to save money for the payment of my ‘Utility Bills’. In an emergency situation, I now rely on self-medication to save money. Technically, this is not suicide but economic hardships are driving fixed income people to make difficult decisions, but who cares. Let our leaders talk about constitution and democracy and ask for three more years to fix our problems! I pray every day for a way out!
ASGHAR MAHMOOD,
Islamabad, October 2.