Energy Crisis: PM for protecting low-income groups

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to ensure that the low income groups are protected, while rationalising the electricity tariff.

He issued the directive while speaking to the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. He said the national exchequer has incurred heavy losses by not rationalising the tariff in the past and added that at present the government was paying Rs167 billion in subsidy to protect domestic consumers. Dar told the prime minister that 70% electricity was being produced by using expensive means whereas only 30% is being generated by using cheap hydroelectric power generation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2013.