Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
The opposition senators on Monday come hard against the government’s recent increase in power tariff and accountability process while the government held responsible the previous regimes of making expensive power agreements.
Since the formation of PTI-led government, the power tariff has witnessed increase by 200 percent, which had made people’s lives miserable. People made hue and cry over increase of power tariff. It has badly affected industrial production and export orders.
The opposition expressed these views while taking part over the motion to discuss the recent increase in power tariff.
The motion moved by JUI-F Senator Karim Murtaza in which he claimed that increase in power tariff has badly affected country’s development. Increase in power tariff, he said will definitely increase power theft and will also increase circular debt.
Leader of the Opposition Yousaf Raza Gillani said PTI government has increased power tariff by 200 percent since came into power.
Asked for shifting renewable energy. JI Senator Mushtaq said during PTI government the circular debt increased from Rs1100 billion to Rs2500 billion, which showed government’s inability to deal with it.
Senator Faisal Javed said that the government has decided not to increase electricity tariff in the upcoming budget.
The Senator regretted the previous governments entered into expensive agreements with Independent Power Producers.
Taking the floor, Minister for Communications Murad Saeed said provision of cheap electricity to consumers on a sustainable basis is the government’s top priority.
The Minister said under the renegotiated agreement with the IPPs, we will be able to save 700 billion rupees.
He said due to the efforts of the government, circular debt is being reduced. He said the government plans to increase the share of renewable energy in total power generation. In this regard, ten new dams are being constructed.
The senate resumed its session at the parliament house with Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in the chair.
