Power tariff will not be raised: PM

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Friday that electricity tariff in Pakistan would not be raised when people of Pakistan were suffering severe shortage of electricity. He said the resolution of the present energy crisis in the country is foremost priority of his government and urged the US and international community to extend help to develop the power sector. He was talking to David Lipton, Senior Director for International Economics in the National Security Council of the US who called on him at Prime Minister House this afternoon. The Prime Minister said that his government had devised short, medium and long term plans to address the power crisis. He apprised Lipton of their salient features. The Prime Minister underscored the need for a better understanding by the outside world of the energy situation in Pakistan. He called on the international community particularly the US to help Pakistan reduce the circular debt which is adversely impacting the power sector and improve cash flow for the power generating companies. Lipton acknowledged that there was a consensus across the political divide in Pakistan for immediate steps to resolve the energy crisis. He assured the Prime Minister that the US government was fully appreciative of Pakistans difficulties and wanted to help solve this problem. This was the second visit of the US official to Pakistan and was meant to consult all the stakeholders of power sector in Pakistan and understand Pakistans priorities to channelise US assistance.