The federal government is gearing up to scrap the Rs. 35 monthly charge collected from electricity consumers to fund the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV). This move is part of a broader initiative to eliminate outdated fees burdening the public.
A formal proposal to abolish the PTV surcharge, applied to residential, commercial, and industrial power users, has been prepared and will be presented to the prime minister during an upcoming high-level meeting.
PTV currently generates approximately Rs. 1.5 billion monthly through this fee from around 42.6 million electricity consumers. The removal of this charge would ease financial pressures on the public while raising questions about alternative funding methods for PTV's operations.
As a state-run broadcaster with nine channels and over 6,000 employees, PTV has long relied on public funds to sustain its activities. The proposed policy represents a significant shift in the government's approach to financing the broadcaster.
Officials emphasize that this measure is part of a broader effort to eliminate unjustified costs being passed on to consumers in their electricity bills.