KARACHI: A startling disclosure from the Ministry of Energy has revealed that electricity consumers across Pakistan were charged over Rs 1.9 trillion in various taxes during the last three fiscal years. According to official documents, Power Distribution Companies (DISCOs) have consistently increased tax collections, contributing significantly to the rising cost of utility bills for the general public.
The documents provide a year-on-year surge in tax collection, showing that Rs 507 billion was collected in FY 2022-23, which jumped to Rs 698 billion in FY 2023-24. During the last fiscal year alone, the total tax recovery from consumers successfully crossed the Rs 700 billion mark.
In terms of regional collections over the three-year period, LESCO (Lahore) remained at the top by recovering over Rs 532 billion, followed by MEPCO (Multan) with Rs 323 billion and FESCO (Faisalabad) with Rs 307 billion. Similarly, GEPCO (Gujranwala) collected Rs 240 billion, IESCO (Islamabad) recovered Rs 232 billion, and PESCO (Peshawar) saw a collection of Rs 151 billion.
The data further reveals that HESCO (Hyderabad) collected Rs 57.58 billion in taxes, while SEPCO (Sukkur) and QESCO (Quetta) recovered Rs 34.46 billion and Rs 24.28 billion respectively. TESCO, serving the tribal areas, recorded a tax collection of Rs 1.55 billion during the same period.
