Islamabad, June 29, 2025: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced the removal of the PTV license fee from electricity bills, offering relief to millions of consumers across Pakistan who have long criticized the additional charge.
Speaking at the launch of the ‘Apna Meter, Apni Reading’ mobile application in Islamabad, the prime minister said the decision reflects the government’s commitment to reducing the financial burden on citizens.
“The PTV fee will no longer be deducted from monthly electricity bills. This step has been taken to provide relief to the people and address long-standing public complaints,” PM Shehbaz stated.
The Pakistan Television (PTV) license fee was a compulsory charge added to electricity bills for decades, originally introduced to fund the state-run broadcaster. The fee—Rs35 for domestic and Rs60 for commercial consumers—was collected monthly through electricity bills, regardless of whether consumers watched or had access to PTV.
Critics have called the fee outdated and unfair, particularly in an era of digital streaming and cable services. Over the years, it had become a contentious issue, with consumers viewing it as an unjustified surcharge on their energy bills.
Successive governments had promised to review or remove the fee, but none followed through until now. The current government’s move is being welcomed by many as a long-overdue correction and a step toward greater billing transparency.
