TV Fee, GST, ET & TRS Explained

Definition. Beyond units × rate, a Pakistani electricity bill adds federal and provincial taxes (GST, ED), government surcharges (TRS, Neelum-Jhelum, financing cost), and a fixed PTV licence fee collected on behalf of the state broadcaster.

Plain-English breakdown of the other lines on your Pakistani electricity bill: PTV TV licence fee, GST, Electricity Duty, Tariff Rationalization Surcharge (TRS), Neelum-Jhelum surcharge, and financing cost surcharge.

GST (General Sales Tax)

Federal GST is applied on the cost of electricity (units × tariff + FPA + surcharges). The rate follows the Sales Tax Act and has historically ranged 17%–18%. Lifeline users are exempt.

Electricity Duty (ED)

ED is a provincial levy (typically 1%–1.5% of base tariff) collected by the DISCO for the provincial government. It appears as a separate line and varies slightly between provinces.

Tariff Rationalization Surcharge (TRS)

TRS equalises tariffs across DISCOs — consumers in profitable regions (IESCO, LESCO) effectively subsidise loss-making regions. The per-unit rate is set by NEPRA and appears as TR Surcharge or similar on the bill.

Neelum-Jhelum and Financing Cost Surcharges

Project-specific surcharges fund hydropower projects and the power-sector circular debt repayment. They are applied per unit and shown separately on the bill.

PTV Fee

A fixed monthly fee (currently PKR 35 for domestic consumers, higher for commercial) collected on behalf of Pakistan Television Corporation. It is not linked to your usage and cannot be removed from the bill.

Frequently asked questions

Can I dispute the PTV fee?

The fee is mandated by government notification. Consumers in some categories (for example, mosques, lifeline) have exemptions; ask your DISCO's commercial office for current eligibility.

Why did my GST amount jump even though units were similar?

GST is a percentage of the total energy charge including FPA and surcharges. A spike in FPA pushes the base higher and therefore the GST number too.