The increased power tariffs are effective from October 1. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Chairman National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) Khwaja Muhammad Naeem proposed an increase in power tariffs which the Supreme Court had earlier asked the government to retract, Express News reported on Friday.
According to the notification, tariffs will be increased for domestic consumers by nearly 30%, and will be calculated backdated from October 1.
The new tariffs mentioned in NEPRA's notification were similar to the price increase announced by the government in late September. The Supreme Court had, however, ordered to cancel the increase since the raise did not follow the prescribed regulations.
Supreme Court had had questioned Water and Power Minister Khwaja Asif on the government's decision to increase power tariffs stating that it was a decision which should be taken by NEPRA.
“It is not your job to determine whether the tariff is high or low, you should only tell us if it is your jurisdiction or not,” Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had said.
“In the presence of Nepra, the government cannot issue a notification to determine power tariffs,” the apex court had noted.
The government then complied with the Supreme Court's order to retract the tariff but then had proposed the increase to NEPRA which subsequently issued the notification asking for the tariff increase on Friday.
As per the increase in tariffs, even if no electricity units are consumed, a minimum charge of Rs75 will be levied.
Ministry of Water and Power then issued a notification confirming the tariff increase.
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..........the cost of not building water reservoirs (hydroelectric) on time.
regards,
There is no value of the Supreme Court of Pakistan's orders in the eyes of the Government of Pakistan.
The outcome after the Supreme Court of Pakistan took notice on the rise in electricity tariff is NIL.
Would the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan can halt the newly issued NEPRA orders for raising the electricity tariff for domestic consumers?
More than 70% of all consumers use less than 200 KWh (aka 200 units) of electricity and the tariff for them hasn't been jacked up. Others should pay cost and not be subsidized.
Let the cries and screams begin.
Happy to see this Extremist nation suffer, suffer and more suffer. I'm sick of this nation's thinking.
Whether this hike is notified thru govt or NEPRA, in the end poor people of Pakistan are losers. Now its upto opposition parties like PPP and PTI to save the people from this senseless act and protest in and out of parliament.
Win, Win, Lose. Nawaz won by throwing the potato in NEPRA's hands and reducing the prices. Sultan Rahi Chief Justice won a few headlines by pretending he saved nation of this price hike. Nation lost in all this topi drama.