ISLAMABAD: The federal government has announced relief in power bills for flood victims, waiving several taxes to ease their financial burden.
Tax Waivers for Flood-Hit Families
Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government will immediately waive taxes on electricity bills in flood-affected areas. He explained that while Islamabad will cut electricity charges, provincial governments must waive land revenue to complete the relief package.
The minister confirmed that inflated bills already printed in flood-hit regions will be reviewed. He stressed that authorities will take every possible step to reduce the financial strain on citizens.
Farmers’ Package Under Consideration
Tanveer announced that once surveys of damaged regions are complete, the government will roll out a farmers’ package. The survey, expected to finish mid-month, has already collected preliminary data on crop losses.
According to him, between 1% and 3% of crops have been damaged nationwide. However, the Gujranwala division suffered the most, with nearly 18% of crops destroyed. Rice fields recorded the heaviest damage overall.
Wider Relief Proposals
Sources revealed that the government is also considering additional tax waivers. Proposals include removing general sales tax, Financing Cost (FC) surcharge, and fixed charges on electricity bills. Authorities are also weighing the removal of sales tax and excise duty on fuel price adjustment, alongside eliminating income tax and retailer sales tax.
Officials argue that these measures will directly support struggling households. Moreover, they say the cuts will help small businesses absorb losses during the recovery phase.
Flood Impact Across Pakistan
The relief in power bills comes as Pakistan faces its second devastating monsoon flood in three years. Since late June, over 900 people have died, 1,400 villages have been submerged in Punjab, and more than one million residents have been displaced, according to the NDMA.
By targeting power bills, the government hopes to ease immediate hardships while longer-term recovery efforts continue.
