Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has proposed the removal of power tariff slabs, including those for peak hours, in an effort to provide relief to low-income households. During a video conference with Federal Minister for Power AwaisLeghari, the CM highlighted that electricity production currently exceeds demand, making it possible to reduce the financial burden on the public.
The discussion, aimed at supporting low-income electricity consumers, was attended by Sindh Energy Minister Syed Nasir Shah, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, PSCM Agha Wasif, and Secretary of Energy Musadiq Khan. On the federal side, the Power Minister was joined by Federal Secretary for Power Dr. FakhreAlam. Murad Ali Shah emphasized the need to assist those using between 300 to 500 units per month, suggesting that these targeted customers could benefit from lower electricity bills.
“The provincial government has already submitted its proposals for review,” the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah stated. Murad Shah said that different slabs of tariff needed to be abolished by offering flat rates to all domestic consumers. In this, the consumption of electricity would be increased and the customers naturally using 300 to 500 units per month could be targeted for relief through the BISP program. Federal Power Minister AwaisLeghari said that the prime minister has already tasked him to work out a detailed plan so that low-income customers could be provided relief in their bills. “I have received directives from the President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the plan with you [the chief minister] and find a way out for the low-income customers,” he said. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that the [federal] government would have to reduce the cost of power production by utilising local/Indigenous fuel.
“The electricity tariff could only be reduced when the production cost would come down,” he said. Federal Minister for Power AwaisLeghari said that the electricity demand has come down for different reasons, and the peak hours in the sense of demand have also changed, therefore the proposals given by the Sindh CM could be considered.
As far as the abolition of different slabs is concerned, MrLeghari said that matter was debatable. Murad Shah proposed to provide electricity to factories at a subsidized rate if they started a night shift.
In this way, the produced power could be utilized and simultaneously employment opportunities would be created. At this, Minister Power said that he would have a separate session with the Sindh chief minister either in Karachi or Islamabad to discuss and finalize different proposals.
