ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced that the government will not increase electricity rates for protected customers who consume up to 200 units of power for three months.
The announcement comes after public outcry over the government’s decision to massively increase the tariff, which is being offered as a condition for securing an International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan.
The prime minister, whose government has come under heavy criticism for burdening the salaried class through the new budget, said the subsidy would cost the exchequer Rs 50 billion.
“These households constitute 94% of electricity consumers. This subsidy will be financed through the development fund of our budget,” he said, reminding the nation that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had reduced electricity prices without budget allocation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz said as part of the package that the unit cost of electricity will be Rs 4 to Rs 5 per unit and K-Electric consumers will also be eligible for this subsidy.
The Prime Minister said that a decision has been taken to provide relief to the common man due to the hike in electricity prices.
He said that these three summer months are the most difficult to manage and finally from October, as the weather cools down, electricity consumption also decreases.
The Prime Minister said that the coalition government will overcome all difficulties together, adding that the only way to overcome economic difficulties is to defeat corruption.
