Govt to scrap Rs35 monthly PTV fee in power bills

ISLAMABAD: In a move likely to be welcomed by millions, the federal government is likely to axe the Rs35 monthly Pakistan Television (PTV) fee collected through power bills.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to officially announce the decision soon, which will offer much-needed relief to more than 40 million electricity consumers nationwide — whether household, com-mercial or industrial.

For years, the PTV fee has quietly added up to Rs1.5 billion every month — nearly Rs16 billion annually — flowing from consumers’ wallets straight to the state broadcaster.

This step is aimed at reducing the financial burden on the common man and offering real relief in electricity bills, a senior official familiar with the matter said.