ISLAMABAD: The electricity relief package approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) for farmers was notified by the Ministry of Water and Power with the directions to the power Distribution Companies (Discos) to immediately implement the tariff.
According to the relief package approved by the ECC, farming community in all the Distribution Companies, except Quesco, will be charged at a fixed rate of Rs10.35 per unit with effect from July 1, 2014 till June 6, 2015.
It is to be noted that the farmers in the Quesco’s jurisdiction are already provided subsidy through a separate mechanism.
Under the new relief package, respective provincial governments will pay General Sales Tax to the Discos, while Fuel Price Adjustment will be born by the federal government. During peak hours (6PM to 10PM) in winter and (5 PM to 11 PM) in summer, the agriculture tube-wells will not be entitled for power supply. According to a handout, the federal government has taken the decision to extend maximum support to the farmers to encourage them for taking better yields of different crops. The officials claim that last year the government’s subsidised electricity rates have helped in achieving record wheat production in the country.
