Govt eyeing another hike in power tariff

The government apparently is not thinking of the backlash it might have to face from the public while taking a decision regarding an increase in power tariff. The situation is already bleak with violent protests across the country, yet the government seems determined to push the public to the wall. Despite prolonged power load shedding in the country, in another blow to the poor masses, the government is mulling Rs 1.52 per unit increase in electricity tariff.
According to a private TV channel, the fresh hike in power tariff will be approved in terms of monthly fuel adjustment charges, something that should actually come down as the prices of fuel have been reduced by the government twice in this month alone. The final decision of increase would be made in the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra)’s meeting today. What seems like a well rehearsed and a standard routine, President Asif Ali Zardari has directed for mitigating the sufferings of the public due to power crisis and has called for measures on war footings to fulfill the energy needs. He said that it was the duty of the government to provide relief to the public and all undergoing power projects should be timely completed. The president expressed these views during his meeting with Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, who called on the president Tuesday.
This is not the first time such orders have been issued. Earlier, the former premier, Yousaf Raza Gilani, and the president himself have issued such orders on many occasions, mainly when the protesters take to the streets or business and industrial sectors go on strike, yet nothing substantial has yet happened in the past four and half years, except for perhaps rental power plants plan which has been stopped by the courts after serious allegations of incompetence and corruption. The prime minister also apprised the president of decisions taken during the Cabinet meeting regarding energy requirements. According to the president’s spokesman, the meeting discussed the present situation in the country with a special focus given to the energy crisis.
Measures to control gas load shedding were also discussed during the meeting. Though monsoon season is right at the door – in fact pre-monsoon rains have already started – electricity is going to see a dip in its demand, the Lahore Electric Supply Corporation has announced has issued a new schedule for load shedding. There will be a total of eight-hour load shedding from now on, instead of for 12 hours, with a special focus on providing relief to the domestic users and business community.
In a late night development, Prime Minister Ashraf removed the Water and Power Secretary Imtiaz Qazi, replacing him with Commerce Secretary Zafar Mehmud. The decision was taken following the first federal cabinet meeting chaired by the PM wherein he asked the ministry to recover the outstanding dues of WAPDA from all government, departments and private sector entities.