Islamabad (HRNW)- It has been revealed that more than Rs 1.9 trillion in taxes have been collected from electricity consumers in the last three years. This revelation has come to light in official documents of the Ministry of Energy, according to which electricity distribution companies (DSCOs) have collected huge amounts of money from the public in the form of various taxes and charges.
According to the documents, during the financial year 2022-23, the DSCOs collected Rs 5.7 trillion in taxes from electricity consumers, while in 2023-24 this amount increased to Rs 6.98 trillion. Similarly, last year, more than Rs 7 trillion in taxes were collected from electricity consumers.
According to the data, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (ISCO) collected Rs 2.32 trillion in taxes from consumers in the last three years.
Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) collected more than Rs 532 billion in taxes in three years, while Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) collected Rs 240 billion in taxes from consumers.
Similarly, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) collected Rs 37 billion in taxes from consumers in three years, Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) collected Rs 323 billion and Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) collected Rs 151 billion in taxes from consumers.
According to the documents, Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) collected Rs 57.58 billion in taxes in three years, Quetta Electric Supply Company (KESCO) collected Rs 24.28 billion, Tribal Areas Electric Supply Company (TESCO) collected Rs 1.55 billion and Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) collected Rs 34.46 billion in taxes.
Energy experts and public circles say that the exorbitant taxes included in electricity bills have added immensely to the hardships of the common consumer, while serious questions are also being raised over the lack of transparency and accountability. The public is demanding that the government review the additional taxes included in electricity bills and provide real relief to consumers.
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