ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): In a major step towards reducing electricity overbilling, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Sunday, addressed the launch ceremony of a mobile app called “Apna Meter Apni Reading.” The app allows electricity consumers to submit their own meter readings directly from their smartphones, making the billing process more transparent and accurate.
Addressing a launching ceremony of ‘Apna meter Apni reading’, a power smart mobile application, developed by the Ministry of Energy, Power Division, the prime minister said that Pakistan was among the few countries where the solarization process was rapidly taking place.
Referring to vital reforms in the power sector, the prime minister termed the launch of the mobile app as a revolutionary reform step which would benefit the consumers.
The ceremony was attended by ministers, parliamentarians and relevant authorities.
Launched on the directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Apna Meter Apni Reading app is part of the government’s effort to bring reforms in the power sector and improve customer service. The initiative is expected to reduce reliance on traditional meter readers, who have often been blamed for sending inflated electricity bills.
Consumers using the Apna Meter Apni Reading app will be able to take a photo of their electricity meter and upload it each month. The bill will then be calculated based on the submitted reading, reducing the chances of errors or manipulation. This self-reading feature will initially be available to single-phase domestic users, with plans to expand the service in the future.
The Apna Meter Apni Reading app supports multiple regional languages, including Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi, and English, to make it accessible to users across Pakistan. However, Karachi Electric (KE) users are not included in this launch for now.
The move targets key issues such as overbilling, delayed or inaccurate readings, and lack of transparency in the current system.
The feature is particularly beneficial for subsidised consumers, helping them avoid losing their eligibility due to minor discrepancies.
For example, crossing the 200-unit usage threshold by even one unit can spike a bill from PKR 2,330 to over PKR 8,000.
