Power tariff is likely to be increased by another four percent by June 15th leading to an increase of up to Rs 1.50 per unit in the price of electricity from July 1, a private TV channel reported on Thursday. The channel’s sources said the price of electricity might be raised by two percent on May 15 and another two percent on June 15, a total four percent hike over two months.
Protests have been raging across the country against prolonged unscheduled load shedding, up to 18 hours in rural areas. People from all walks of life have been hit hard by the load shedding coupled with intense heat in the last two weeks. Industries across the country have been suffering from complete shut down in the face as authorities have specifically cut power supply to the industrial sector to cater to domestic consumer demand. Students, preparing for various-level examinations say they are the worst-hit.
Around 2,000 students staged a demonstration in Swat on Thursday. They were decrying the fact that power load shedding, during the examinations, was affecting their studies and criticised the provincial government for its failure to ensure continued power supply.