Balkh residents complain about high electricity tariffs

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Residents complain electricity tariff in northern Balkh province is three times higher compared to other provinces and ask the government to reduce it.

The consumers say normal electricity price in Balkh is 6.25 afghanis per kilowatt while it is 2.5 afs in Kabul and other provinces.

Gul Meer, a taxi driver in Mazar-i-Sharif, told Pajhwok he could not afford to pay his two months electricity bill amounting to 5,000 afghanis.

He said the price of one kilowatt of electricity in Balkh was 6.25 afghanis, but the same was charged 2.5 afghanis in Kabul and other provinces, urging the government to bring the electricity price at par with other provinces.

Inayatullah, another resident of Mazar-i-Sharif, also complained electricity rate was higher in Balkh compared to other provinces, urging the government to implement uniform prices in all provinces.

Another resident, Allah Dad, said poverty and unemployment had affected all people equally in the entire country.

“It is beyond our understanding that why electricity rate is high in Balkh and low in other provinces including Kabul. The government should solve this issue.”

Da Afghanistan Baresha Shirkat officials also admit electricity prices vary in provinces, but they are trying to make the tariff the same in all provinces.

DABS spokesperson Hikmatullah Maiwandi told Pajhwok Afghan News electricity rate was different in different provinces, but they were trying for the past one year to resolve the issue.

Currently, the price of one kilowatt of electricity in Balkh is 6.25 afghanis, four afghanis in Herat and 2.5 afghanis in Kabul.

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