Government withdraws power tariff increase notification

“The court will hold the government responsible if it fails to provide relief to the public” CJ says.

ISLAMABAD: Under pressure from the Supreme Court, the government withdrew the notification regarding the latest power tariff increase, Express News reported on Friday.

On September 30 the government had announced that the electricity tariff for residential consumers would be increased by Rs5.89 per unit on those people who consume 201-300 units of electricity and by Rs 3.67 per unit on those who consume 301-700 units of electricity. The increase in electricity tariff was one of the requirements of the loan deal the government struck with the IMF.

The Supreme Court on October 1 took notice of the increase in electricity tariff. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Chaudhry had asked the government to submit the new tariff notification to the court.

During a hearing on the issue today, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said “the court will hold the government responsible if it fails to provide relief to the general public.”

He further added, “The government should make a policy addressing this issue and should not drag the court into it."

The power tariff increase case was adjourned for two weeks.