Vegetable vendor commits suicide after receiving Rs17,000 power bill in Punjab

A poverty-hit vegetable vendor ended his life after he received a hefty electricity bill in Punjab's Bahawalnagar, police said on Saturday.

According to the law enforcers, the distressing incident took place in Tehsil Chishtian of Bahawalnagar on Saturday.

The deceased's father informed police that his son had taken the severe step as he was not able to pay the inflated power bill of Rs17,000.

The victim's father further said that the vegetable seller committed suicide by consuming poisonous pills.

However, the victim's father refused to take action against the government and the electricity supply department.

The incident comes amidst a series of tragic events related to inflated electricity bills in Pakistan.

Earlier on July 23, a man killed his younger brother in Gujranwala over a dispute related to an inflated electricity bill.

Later on July 29, an elderly woman in Gujranwala committed suicide after she received an electricity bill of Rs10,000.

According to the details, the victim used her savings for life-saving surgery to pay an inflated power bill.

In another incident that took place on August 1, a financially distressed man took his own life by hanging from a ceiling fan due to a hefty electricity bill in Dhok Sadu area in Taxila.

It's pertinent to mention here that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government has hiked power tariffs up to Rs48.84 per unit for domestic consumers in line with the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) demand.

The increase in electricity prices has resulted in inflated bills, exacerbating the struggles of inflation-hit citizens.