Energy Minister Omar Ayub Khan announced on Thursday that the price of electricity per unit would be increased by 1.95 rupees and accused the former government of Pakistan's Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of signing electricity deals with "bad intentions and corrupt practices.
Ayub's announcement came at a press conference in Islamabad with Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar and Special Adviser to Prime Minister Tabish Gauhar. “The policies of the previous government planted landmines for us, which made it difficult for us to manage the country's affairs,” Ayub said.
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"Looking at their policies, the increase in the electricity tariff in one year (2019-2020) would have been 2.18 rupees per unit due to the mandatory capacity payments." Despite the pressure and challenges from Covid-19, the government paid $ 473 billion. Rs in subsidies to the energy sector last year, he added.
The minister went on to say, "We must somehow overcome the government's PML-N deficit. We must make this decision to keep the industries functioning." Meanwhile, SAPM Gauhar announced that the government would shut down gas supplies to electricity-tied units in the country from February 1.
"The agreements with the independent power producers on the 'take and pay' clause expire on the first day of next month." he explained. Gauhar also announced that the government would shut down the old 3,500 megawatts power plants. “Demand for electricity has fallen in recent years,” said SAPM. "We will enter into a dialogue with the provinces about electricity theft and declaration.
" Asad Umar told the press representative: “We had export problems due to the previous regime. A positive result, however, is that exports are recovering, while the economy is also showing an upward trend due to the policy of the incumbent government.
" The Planning Minister said Pakistan's economy had boomed in recent months and industries had cost growth and production. Umar added that the balance of payments is now in surplus and not deficit, claiming that the incumbent government has inherited power troubles from previous rulers.
