The federal government of Pakistan has decided to eliminate the Rs. 35 Pakistan Television (PTV) fee charged on electricity bills, offering relief to millions of consumers. The decision, directed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, is set to be formally announced soon after a high-level meeting next week. This move aims to ease the financial burden on households amid rising inflation and energy costs.

The PTV fee, collected from approximately 42.6 million domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers, generates around Rs. 1.5 billion monthly and nearly Rs. 16.64 billion annually for PTV’s operations, which include nine channels and over 6,000 employees. Introduced in 2004, the fee has been a contentious addition to electricity bills, and its removal is expected to simplify billing and reduce costs for users.