ISLAMABAD: The government has announced Rs 1.95 per unit increase in the power tariff, placing another burden on the already inflation stricken public.
Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub announced the price hike in a press conference saying that the PML-N government had left landmines for the coming government. He said that PTI government will have to recover the deficit that PML-N left us with.
Omar Ayub said that PTI government was forced to increase electricity prices due to poor agreements signed by PML-N. He announced increase in the price of electricity by Rs 1.95 per unit. Despite difficult circumstances, a subsidy of Rs 473 billion has been given to the power sector, he added.
Accompanying the Energy Minister, Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said that the previous government had left us sizable challenges in the power sector but the PTI government took important steps to deal with the situation, including special packages for industrial development.
Asad Umar said that during the last few months, the economy has seen improvement due to our government’s initiatives, highlighted by increased industrial production and exports. He said that development projects worth Rs. 208 billion were completed in the first six months while current account has been in surplus for the past six months.
Talking at the presser, SAPM Tabish Gohar said that the government has taken many steps to reduce circular debt and unlike past governments, energy agreements were made in accordance with the rules and regulations. He also said that new agreements with IPPs will reduce the burden by Rs 6,000 billion while Rs 450 billion arrears will be paid this year.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz has criticized the price hike, terming it anti-people.
In her tweet, Maryam Nawaz wrote that back-to-back increase in prices of petrol and electricity was the worst form of anti-public behaviour by the PTI government.
