Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced the complete removal of the PTV license fee from electricity bills across the country, offering a significant relief to millions of power consumers.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of the “Power Smart Mobile App” in Islamabad, the Prime Minister also formally introduced the “Apna Meter, Apni Reading” initiative — a digital platform aimed at improving transparency in electricity billing and addressing public complaints regarding meter readings and overbilling.

“This initiative is a step toward empowering electricity consumers,” said the Prime Minister. “Now every user will be able to upload their own meter reading through the app and receive an accurate bill.”

He emphasised that the government is committed to transparency and consumer rights in the energy sector. The app is designed to reduce reliance on manual readings and curb instances of inflated billing.

Highlighting the government’s efforts to reduce electricity prices, PM Shehbaz said that successful negotiations with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have led to a Rs4.50 per unit reduction in electricity tariffs. Additionally, he said that the government passed on the benefit of falling international oil prices to the public, resulting in a further Rs7.50 per unit cut.

He noted that earlier projections had warned of a potential 50 to 70 paisa increase per unit due to annual adjustments, but the government decided not to burden the public.

Addressing challenges in the energy sector, the Prime Minister described electricity theft as a serious issue and assured that comprehensive measures are underway to tackle it. He added that the promotion of solar energy has helped reduce overall power consumption, easing pressure on the national grid.

PM Shehbaz praised the efforts of the Federal Minister for Energy, acknowledging the tough negotiations with investors, resolution of the circular debt issue, and successful talks with banks to reduce interest rates — all of which, he said, are key steps in bringing down electricity production costs.