PM Nawaz slashes power tariff, maintains petroleum prices for May
The Prime Minister announced Rs 1 billion package for Hazara University
MANSEHRA (Dunya News) – Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif slashed power tariff while maintained petroleum products’ prices in an address after performing groundbreaking of Havelian-Thakot motorway on Thursday.
The Prime Minister had visited Mansehra yesterday to inaugurate a motorway section and addressed a rally afterwards.
PM Nawaz announced to cut electricity price by Rs 2.5 per unit and reiterated determination to rid the country of power outages by 2018.
Amid a round of applause, he said that he rejected the summary sent to him seeking increase in petroleum prices.
“We’ll have to face a deficit of Rs 18 billion but still won’t raise prices”, he said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced several development projects for Mansehra and Hazara, ensuring gas supply.
He also announced Rs 1 billion package for betterment of Hazara University.
PM Nawaz said he was not trying to pull a political stunt by visiting Mansehra but to work for country’s development.
“Ours is the agenda of Pakistan’s success, progress and prosperity and not of sit-ins”, he said adding, “We’re determined to elevate Pakistan to the status of world’s best country”.
He said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) government did not raise hollow slogans and the party would not let anyone sabotage the agenda of development.
The Prime Minister said it was the federal government that initiated major projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) despite the fact that the provincial government is not led by them.
On the other hand, different analysts have criticised PM s Mansehra visit for the fact that he had inaugurated the same project at least three times earlier.
The Prime Minister was also criticised by different sections for announcing an impossible package and provison of laptops to students when there are roughly two months left for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16 to end.
Reducing the GST
Implementing Prime Minister’s decision to not increase petroleum products’ prices, the government has cut general sales tax (GST). National treasury’s losses will amount to Rs 9 billion for providing relief to the people.
According to the Petroleum Ministry, the GST on petrol was cut from Rs 14.48 to Rs 12.89 per litre for May to keep the people from affects of increasing crude price in the international market.
GST on high octane is fixed at Rs 13.90 from the previous Rs 18.57 per litre, that on light diesel at Rs 4.72 from Rs 9.63 per litre while tax on high speed diesel has been maintained at Rs 29.57 per litre.
General Sales Tax on kerosene oil is also cut to Rs 4.76 from Rs 10.40 per litre and that on high octane oil to Rs 13.90 from 18.57 per litre.
