ISLAMABAD: The federal government of Pakistan on Thursday approved a massive hike in fixed charges on electricity bills in Pakistan.
Local media quoting sources close to the development reported that the federal cabinet has decided to jack up the fixed charges by 184 percent for Industrial sector consumers.
For commercial consumers, the fixed charges of power will rise by 150 percent, while customers using electricity for agricultural tube wells will face a 100 per cent hike in fixed charges.
According to the sources, the cabinet also approved measures to address power outages at the meeting.
After the recent increase, the fixed electricity charges for industrial consumers will jump from Rs 440 to Rs 1250, and for commercial consumers, from Rs 500 to Rs 1250, while the Agricultural tube well charges will be hiked from Rs 200 to Rs 400. These increases are set to take effect from July 1.
The Minister for Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan, earlier in the day, said that the government is committed to transparency and openness in all of the privatization transactions.
He was speaking at a media briefing in Islamabad during which the journalists were briefed regarding the federal government’s policy for privatization.
He added the government has decided on the privatization of DISCOs and the Ministry will launch the process in consultation with Power Division.
