ISLAMABAD: The government would not increase electricity tariff rates untill the load-shedding problems is resolved, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance, Shaukat Tarin said here on Friday. “It would not be logical to enhance electricity rates at a time when people are facing the load shedding problems,” the advisor said while talking to mediamen after inaugurating a conference on “Privatization with Public Private Partnership.”
He said that Pakistan would be negotiating to International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the power tariff issue as it would create problems for the government as well as for people to enhance electricity charges.
He said that if required, the government could even give subsidy from its own pocket to mitigate the problems of people. He said that Pakistan and Internationally Monetary Fund would be holding talks to discuss the budgetary measures of the government and the release of next tranche of loans to Pakistan. The Advisor on Finance said that there had been 10 percent decrease in overall gas prices adding that the industry was provided 11.75 percent reduction where as the domestic consumers were provided about 2 percent reduction in prices. The Advisor said that the government has removed the Petroleum Development Levy in the Budget to make the petroleum prices transparent saying that fluctuation of oil prices in international market would have now direct impact on the domestic oil prices. He was of the view that the collective surcharges on petroleum products in Pakistan were about 35 to 37 percent against 44 percent in developing countries and 64 percent in developed countries.—Agencies