Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced the abolition of the Pakistan Television (PTV) license fee from electricity bills across the country.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the “Apna Meter, Apni Reading” mobile application in Islamabad, the prime minister said the government was taking urgent steps to address the “four-pronged challenge” in the power sector — including electricity theft, low consumption, circular debt, and high production costs.

He said Rs500 billion worth of electricity is stolen annually, which remains one of the biggest challenges for the sector. “We have to control electricity theft at lightning speed,” he said, adding that efforts were underway and that he was personally monitoring the matter.

Mr Sharif also acknowledged that electricity consumption currently remains lower than production. However, he said this was largely due to the rapid solarisation underway in the country, which he welcomed. “Solar energy is the cheapest source of electricity in the world and Pakistan is among the few countries where solarisation is happening at a fast pace,” he said.

He reassured that the government would not discourage solar panel usage and said the rights of electricity consumers would be protected during the reform process. “The real benefit of Apna Meter, Apna Reading is to the common consumer. It’s a revolutionary initiative,” he said, adding that the project should be implemented across the country and translated into at least five local languages.

The new mobile application allows consumers to submit their own meter readings — a move the government says will help improve billing transparency and reduce complaints.

Mr Sharif also said the government had reduced the price of electricity by Rs4.5 per unit following difficult negotiations with independent power producers (IPPs) and investors. He added that the falling international oil prices had further allowed a Rs7.5 per unit decrease in power tariffs.

In recent years, electricity prices in Pakistan have remained a contentious issue, with successive governments struggling to contain rising costs, manage subsidies, and reduce losses from line theft and unpaid bills.

The prime minister said the current reforms aim to ensure “cheap electricity for industrial and domestic consumers” while maintaining fiscal discipline. He also said that circular debt was addressed after extensive talks with banks and expressed hope that reforms would pave the way for economic stability and growth.

Calling the new app a significant innovation, the prime minister urged the Energy Minister to oversee its rollout from “Karachi to Peshawar” and involve the Information Ministry to ensure broader public engagement.