PM Shehbaz Withdraws Fixed Tax, Waives FCA For 17 Million Consumers

PM Shehbaz Withdraws Fixed Tax, Waives FCA For 17 Million Consumers
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday abolished fixed tax imposed on traders and waived fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for 17 million of the total electricity consumers.

In a video address from Doha, Qatar, the prime minister said that fixed tax was imposed on retailers in the budget 2022-23 against the vision of the coalition government, adding that he has constituted a committee to fix responsibility for this.

“Fixed tax has been withdrawn,” he said.

He said that FCA – linked to international fuel prices – is "intolerable" for the people, adding that after consulting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and all the coalition parties, the government has decided to waive FCA for 17.1 million electricity consumers.

However, the FCA exemption would apply to those whose consumption in terms of units of electricity is low.

Shehbaz hoped that these steps will bring contentment among the people, adding that “the government is trying to improve their situation."

The premier added that the government is also reviewing the situation for the rest of the 13 million electricity consumers, who, he said, use more electricity.