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ISLAMABAD: Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, the caretaker prime minister, declared on Thursday that his administration would reveal a relief strategy for the electricity bills that have sparked widespread protests within the next 48 hours. 

The interim premier provided the reassurance at a meeting with leading journalists at the PM Office.

According to PM Kakar, his administration thoroughly examined the previous two months' worth of electrical bills. He continued by saying that all institutions were questioned on their free electricity usage and that the issue with electricity bills was "being exaggerated".

The caretaker prime minister remarked, "The electricity bills will need to be paid and IMF [International Monetary Fund] conditions will be implemented." 

IPPs and line losses were to blame for the high electricity rates, he continued. "We are investigating the problem of electricity costs while collaborating with the IMF. There is inflation, but not enough for a strike or a shut-down of businesses.

We have noted the free electrical units [being provided to government agencies and officials]," he added. 

He reaffirmed that no one in the army receives free power and that all costs are covered by the defense budget.

The acting premier underlined that they had also been informed that no one in the legal system receives free electricity. Even in Wapda, he continued, only a select few employees in grades 1 through 16 have access to free electrical facilities, while the majority of officers in grades 17 and up receive free electricity units.

"From our vantage point, the majority of employees in grades 1 through 16 are indignant. Instead of free electricity, it has been suggested that officers in grades 17 through 22 get money.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Kakar, stated, "We have asked all stakeholders to come up with a policy within 48 hours."

He promised that the 2018 general elections would take place on time, but he also made it clear that the Election Commission of Pakistan has the last say and is there to help.

I am not an expert in constitutional law, but the law that has been enacted will be followed until the Supreme Court issues an interpretation of the law. We will abide by the Supreme Court's decision regarding the election date, the premier declared.

Infuriated citizens, already suffering from surging inflation, continue to demonstrate in the streets in opposition to significant increases in electricity tariffs and tax rates across the nation.

Traders, farmers, and members of the legal and commercial fraternities are among the civil society participants in these demonstrations, which are attended by both men and women.

Earlier today, businessmen protested around the nation against sharp increases in electricity rates as the caretaker administration indicated its inability to offer assistance due to stringent IMF requirements.

To pressure the government to make changes to the laws, numerous trade groups in various cities, including Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, Quetta, Vehari, Peshawar, and others, are observing shutter-down strikes.

The government considers letting customers to pay their electricity bills in installments.

The press conference was held just hours after news broke that the caretaker government may permit inflation-affected individuals with bills of up to 400 units to pay their obligations in six-month installments in spite of skyrocketing electricity costs.

Following a widespread uproar against the expensive electricity bills, the premier was pondering recommendations for relief measures for the public while presiding over a cabinet meeting in Islamabad.

In the meeting, acting Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar updated the group on continuing negotiations with the IMF, whose terms are widely believed to be the main cause of the exorbitantly high energy prices in the country.

The premier was briefed on current economic statistics as well as a number of other topics during the discussion, including the necessity to take decisive action against smuggling and illegal foreign exchange rackets in light of the rupee's already fragile and declining value.