Summary Urge government to concentrate on the recovery instead of shifting the burden to the common man.
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) has lauded the Supreme Court’s move to take notice against government’s notification to increase the power tariff by 40-90 percent for domestic consumer and termed it a timely initiative to save the already burdened consumers from more trouble.
Chairing the meeting, Shaban Khalid said that the implementation of new power tariffs would almost crush the consumers as it will increase electricity price by almost Rs.6 per unit for those consuming 201 to 300 units, which is unbearable for a common man.
As per Pakistan Electric Power Co’s electricity consumption software, one day’s consumption of a 100 watts bulb, 60-100 watts fan and 400 watts fridge comes to 382 units per month, which is less than average household electricity consumption while the bill of 300 units @ Rs.14/unit comes to Rs.4200, which is enough to prove that common man will now be badly crushed by exorbitant hike in power tariff.
Shaban said we already have the highest tariff in the region as the regional average power price for industry is approximately Rs.9 per unit as compared to over Rs.14 per unit in Pakistan. He stressed that government should also concentrate on the recovery of Rs.441 billion outstanding instead of shifting the burden to the common man. Given the new prices, small and medium sized industries would especially become economically unviable.
