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PM Imran Orders To Bring Down Power Prices

Islamabad (October 22, 2018): Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed for immediate steps to bring down the electricity prices and reduce an additional burden on consumers due to pilferage and other damages in the power sector.

He was chairing a meeting of energy task force in Islamabad today.

The Prime Minister said it is unacceptable that common people suffer due to theft and mismanagement of others. The meeting was given a detailed briefing on the energy sector.

It was informed that a comprehensive energy policy is being devised keeping in view the next 25 years needs of the country.

Steps are also being taken to reduce dependence on imported fuel and promote the use of indigenous resources.

It has also been decided to launch a crackdown on power thieves. A special task force has been set up under Chief Minister in Punjab to stop the power theft. DCOs at the district level will oversee the crackdown against power theft.

The meeting was also told that technology is widely being used to improve the supply and distribution of electricity.

Prime Minister directed the power division to present a detailed plan for ensuring the availability of quality transformers. The meeting decided to conduct seismic surveys to expedite the process of oil and gas exploration.It was also decided to provide full security to oil and gas companies working in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in coordination with Frontier Constabulary.

The Prime Minister welcomed the return of international oil and gas exploration company Exxon to the country and said the government will provide all-out assistance to foreign companies working in this sector.

ECC Deffers Hike In Power Tariff 

Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting chaired by Finance Minister Asad Umar has deferred again the decision of hike in the power tariff by Rs3.75 per unit yet another time.

During the meeting, the Finance Minister said that the government needs to improve the collection mechanism of outstanding payments of influential institutions.

The summary regarding a hike in power tariffs was presented in the ECC meeting today, however, the decision has been postponed once again.

According to the summary prepared by the government on October 15, “Recommendations have been made for an increase in prices for the years 2016-17 and 2017-18 as per which the price per unit is expected to rise to Rs3.75.The summary also includes arrears amounting to additional Rs400 billion to be collected from customers every month.

After an increase in the gas tariff, the government is likely to increase the prices of electricity by Rs3.75 per unit.

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