Hussain 
Amidst the continuous economic difficulties, including inflation and rising electricity and gas prices, the government has taken measures to support Radio Pakistan by introducing additional charges on electricity bills of every consumer.
During a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, chaired by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla, the Ministry of Finance officials revealed their idea to impose an extra Rs15 radio fee on consumers’ monthly electricity bills.
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The purpose of this radio fee is to solve the financial crisis faced by Radio Pakistan and ensure the continuation of its services.
Additionally, a TV fee of Rs35 will also be charged from consumers, with Rs15 of this amount allocated to Radio Pakistan to support their employees’ salaries.
The proposal to implement these fees is based on the recommendations of the Senate standing committee.
In the past, there was a proposal to introduce a separate “radio fee” of Rs500 during vehicle registration (excluding motorcycles) to generate an annual revenue of Rs15 billion for Radio Pakistan. However, this proposal did not materialize.
Financial Budget 2023
During the meeting, the Senate Standing Committee on Finance learned that the Finance Division’s Budget Wing had received 55 recommendations for the Financial Budget 2023, with most of them related to the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
While several suggestions were accepted, some were not feasible due to potential intervention by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
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It is essential to find ways to support Radio Pakistan, but the burden on the masses in the form of additional fees should be handled with careful consideration and transparency.
