APBF flays NEPRA for hike in power tariff

KARACHI: Rejecting the hike in electricity tariff by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) on pressure of power distribution companies, the All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) has asked authorities to reduce electricity and gas tariff particularly for the industry in Punjab.

While presiding over the executive committee meeting, APBF President Ibrahim Qureshi criticised Nepra, which has allowed an increase of 48 paisa per unit in the average electricity tariff for Discos for 2015-16, allowing them an additional burden of more than Rs24.34 billion on consumers or additional revenue for Discos.



The Discos were also demanding a hike of Rs225 billion as additional revenue on account of higher losses, non-recovery of bills, late payment surcharge etc.

At a time when the country’s trade deficit has further widened by 34% during 2MFY18 to $6.3b against $4.7b in same period of last year, the proposed hike in power tariff is very unfortunate.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2017.

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