ISLAMABAD, July 26(ABC): Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Tuesday said the federal cabinet has decided to increase the power tariff by Rs3.50 per unit with immediate effect and has issued special directives to the Ministry of Power for protecting the poor consumers from its impact.
Addressing a press conference flanked by Minister of State for Petroleum Musadiq Malik, Dastagir said that Rs 3.50 per unit hike in the tariff would be applicable from July 26, while another Rs 3.50 per unit increase would be applied to the bill from the next month and Rs0.90 from October.
He said the first three months would be difficult for the consumers but the power prices would start decreasing from November after reflection of the fuel surcharge in the tariff.
The hike would have no such impact on the consumers as the increase had already been reflected in the monthly bills on account of fuel price adjustment, the power minister added.
Dastagir said the cabinet had also decided to provide a smooth and uninterrupted power supply round the clock to the dedicated industrial feeders to protect the livelihoods of the people.
Similarly, minimum load-management would be carried out on mix-industrial feeders, he said, adding that it was also decided to provide both gas and electricity on a priority basis to five major export sectors at reduced rates.
An announcement to this effect would be made soon, he added.
Regarding a significant increase in the power generation, he said that it has massively jumped owing to increase hydel generation from Tarbela and resumption of 1,100 MW from nuclear power plant K-2. Currently, hydel generation from Tarbela stood at 4500 MW, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Malik expressed confidence that the electricity price would start decreasing from October-November due to the effective policies of the coalition government.
Malik added that there would be a visible gradual reduction in the electricity price in the coming three-four months.