The government of Pakistan plans to seek financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help flood victims. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Ministry of Finance to begin talks with the IMF immediately. He asked officials to explore options for a one-month waiver or relief on electricity bills. This support will not be limited to rural areas. It will also cover affected cities across the country.
Officials say the relief plan includes removing taxes and surcharges from electricity bills in flood-hit areas. These may include general sales tax (GST), fuel cost surcharge, and fixed charges. The government also plans to eliminate GST and excise duty from the fuel price adjustment part of the bill. Income tax, surplus tax, and retailer sales tax may also be waived. The goal is to ease the financial burden on struggling households.
The Finance Ministry has been asked to speed up discussions with the IMF for urgent approval. The prime minister stressed the need for fast action to support families who lost homes and income. Many communities have no access to basic services due to the floods. Quick relief in electricity bills can offer temporary comfort to those suffering most.
Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain confirmed efforts are already underway. He said the government will remove unfair charges from the bills issued before the relief decision. These bills were printed earlier and are under review. He also said provincial governments will waive land revenue taxes for affected areas. This decision aims to provide broader economic relief.
In addition to bill relief, the government plans a farmers’ support package. It will compensate for lost crops and livestock. The package will be announced after surveys of flood-hit regions are complete. The minister assured that all efforts will focus on helping those most affected. The government is working with speed to ease the impact of the disaster.