The finance ministry, on Monday, allocated Rs 500 million to reimburse gas consumers who were previously overcharged. Sources have relayed that the amount would be compensated to consumers phase-wise, for which Prime Minister Imran Khan had already issued directives. It is said that the consumers would be given relief in the billing of April, May and June.
Earlier, as many as 45,000 household consumers were slapped with inflated gas bills; sparking protests across the country. Last month, Prime Minister Imran Khan had ordered the concerned authorities to pay back the extra amount collected from gas consumers and act against those responsible for inflated bills. The prime minister also chaired a high-level meeting in this regard wherein he was presented with a preliminary inquiry report. The inquiry suggested that 30 per cent of the gas consumers had been sent inflated gas bills. To which, PM Khan also ordered the authorities to continue the investigation to dig out all the facts.
Published in Daily Times, March 19th 2019.
