The peak hours electricity rate has been increased to Rs18 per unit from Rs13.99 for domestic consumers. PHOTO: FILE
Whereas the Supreme Court was told while hearing the case regarding power tariff rises, that consumers using under 200 units a month, who fall under the lowest income brackets, would be spared the raise, an increase of some 40 per cent has quietly been passed on to them by power companies. This has essentially been done by hitting all consumers who have Time of Use meters, imposed on them by companies, with a new off-peak rate of Rs12.50 per unit, up from Rs8.90. Similarly, the peak hours electricity rate has been increased to Rs18 per unit from Rs13.99 for domestic consumers.
Consumers who use smart metres but consume less than 200 units a month are charged Rs18 per unit during peak hours, same as consumers who use more than 700 units a month. Consumers falling under the Islamabad Electricity Supply Company have already been hit with bills under the new tariff, while claims made by officials that this was an error that would soon be rectified have so far not materialised.
This amounts to deceit and deception of the worst possible kind. The prime minister himself had given his word that consumers falling in the low consumption categories would be spared. He and his government now need to explain to all of us, and to the apex Court, why this has not happened. Promises made by governments need to be kept. This, of course, holds even truer when they affect so many lives. The Supreme Court had tried to protect the people. The government, it seems, is far less willing to do so, demonstrating greater loyalty to the IMF than to citizens and the Court. This will not go down well at all. Indeed, it marks a blatant violation of all that is moral and ethical.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2013.
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@csmann: It would be stupid if I say that, equivalent to declaring USA pro-Taliban. Because USA did not only initiate peace talks with them, but also gave them an active office and representation.
@The Failed Rebel: 4. You missed the main one. Taliban and terrorism,and their apologists including PTI/IK
@The Failed Rebel: There is no denying that PML-N government has totally failed to deliver. However martial law is not the answer. It is in fact regular interferences from the military into the democratic that have given a life line to the political dynasties in he country. We need to stick to the democratic path, vote wisely and make it count.
@The Failed Rebel:::while reading your thought provoking comment I was thinking of giving a worthwhile title to it,when suddenly,as if from the blue,there appeared the exact words,meant for for another article,on business which say 'Born to die',and that's what we are for
It would have been a contempt of court had there been PPP government in the center.
I reckon we need a martial law more than ever to abolish the political and economic dynasties in Pakistan now. This failed government was brought to power by massive funding from foreign lobbies and local elites. The collateral proof to support this theory is how the government and the imposed policies have been aligned to aid foreign agenda. Also, I have heard rumors that the day PML-N won, there was a significant transfer of funds to all the PML-N MNAs. Upon trying to use my sources to get details of information, I was either denied or told it is false. However, I did see a certain increase in the economic activity of the suspicious households whom I expected to have been bribed. Coming back to policy, notable examples are: 1. IMF loan. Which increase poverty, unemployment and misery in the country, practically making it a slave of foreign lending lobbies when it comes to policy making etc. So now we cannot rise against them. Note that IMF loan agreement and the report issues clearly indicated that it will devalue the rupee and cause unemployment of 1.2m people. Only PTI has continuously raised this issue in the NA. 2. Silent support for US drone strikes which is a violation of our sovereignty. If anyone should be punishing the perpetrators it should be us, and by capricious means which do not eventually cause civilian casualties. (Don't know why the drone supporters don't understand that droning and war strategy is not working) 3. Imposing laws which blatantly facilitate the rich and wicked. Recent example is the money whitening scheme by Nawaz. I will post details of this later, apparently ET doesn't like when I mention that black money can also come from drug sale, bribery and running prostitution cartels. Though, I just seek to make a point how horrendously wicked people will get a free hand with this policy. Secondly, the continuous inflation and indirect taxation which only exploits the middle and poor class. Eventually the modal that will follow will be of a slave class and an elite class. (Please my Pakistanis, my people, wake up!)
My people, I want you to see how vision-less and stupid the incumbent government is. Ishaq Dar, the so called "experienced" economist has failed to understand how interest-based debt is detrimental to the society and what its long term atrocities. SBP buying dollars, Minister issues stock incentives, etc. justify how incapable their minds are in perceiving the root cause of the problem. These are just artificial measures to alleviate hyper-inflation of the so called economists with PhDs, who have their brains washed by complex mathematical modals crafted only to bog the minds. In the core of this lies the menace of interest which seeks to generate more money than a system can produce (It's a long discussion, read my blog) P. S. I only seek to inform my people of the menace that, if not stopped, will ruin us. Do not align to a party, and do not align to Pakistan even, atleast align to yourself! Look at how these rulers are exploiting you.