Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE: The Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government was forced to increase the power tariff because of the prevailing situation, said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while promising to reduce the charges as soon as the economy improves.
Nawaz made these statements while addressing his party workers after Eid prayers. The prime minister assured that the power tariff would be reduced once major development projects were completed.
On Sept 30, the government notified an up to Rs5.89 per unit increase in power tariffs for those who consume 200 to 300 units per month.
Criticising the previous governments for not taking substantial measures against terrorism and extremism, Nawaz said his government is not only working on making new, strict laws but also keeping all political parties in the loop.
He said his party came to power at a very difficult juncture but is determined to find permanent solutions for the country’s problems.
“We are working day and night for this purpose,” he said.
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I blame PTI for shortage of megawatts.....
hahahahaha!! That statement can satisfy the people who do not even know the their billings, as far as middle class in concerned they re-check the meter reading on bill from their meter can foresee the burden that is imposed on them. The tarriff will be decreased once the economy increases but who cares about the billings once the earning will increase! The economy is down and the monthly income is rapidly decreasing and during this time govt is increasing the rates which will let to the shortage in the meal of public. This is the time when the public shall get the relief from low rates and why dont they imprisoned those who are stealing the power ? The slab for high rates shall be above 500 units because an average usage is 250-300 meters, what do they actually want from public ? that the public shall not make the basic use of electricity ? I was happy with the Nawaz govt but now i am truly ashamed of their decisions! May Allah help Pakistan. Ameen.
Middle class people normally hhave bill in this band (200 to 300). and as far as i concerned, this band has highest popularity. this businessmen based govt is trying to maximize the returns.. that's it.. extremely pathetic.. The burden should be shifted to people that don't even bother to see the bill after using this service recklessly instead.
All of these political parties and leaders are doing everything for themselves. Its like giving a penny to people and putting 99 in thier own pocket. We havent given them votes for how pious they are. We just followed their 'make-upped' faces
@ F Farooq Why your so called long term solution is not put into practice for bringing the three million wealthy people into the net of direct taxes whose list has been prepared by FBR instead of putting more and burden of indirect taxes on poor people..
Lying..........Being Politician as usual!!!!
@unbelievable: A couple of facts 1) people who pay their bills should not be charged the bills of those who do not pay their bills. & 2) Taxes paid as part of the elec bills which total 300 billion should be used to set off against the so called 'line losses'. You cant charge taxes on the bills and then say that this is not a part of the bill.
people keep calm, thre r so many prblms fced by gov. They r tryng there bst bt these all tkng sme tme 2 imprve, our economy is very bad, deficit in budget, trade & export, PPP gov. take the price of dolar high, frm 64rs. to 103 rs. so debt incrse, gov. not paid debt frm his pocket, we pay the debt of our country. When taxes increase then economy of cntry becmes nrmal. B economist.
@Ehsan: U mean "Another fat lie from our fat PM"
@Ehsan: I think his comments are very rational. Pakistanis need to understand the real cost of energy like gas and pay a fair rate. Only when the situation improves should the government consider lowing rates for energy. However, no one has the right to demand discounted or free electricty. Worse I hate it when people steal electricty soI support Nawaz Sharif in his goal of clamping down on energy theft and expanding the energy grid.
@Rafique Khan: Coalition Govt. will not work.
Hypocrisy at its best.
I do'nt think he will lower prices of any article in future. He has increased prices of petroleum products, electricity and gas ever since he has assumed the office of PM. Has failed to fulfill any of his promises made to the nation at the time of elections. He is entirely dependent upon the bureaucracy and it is ueless to expect from him that he will take any revolutionary steps during his tenure or will be able to do anything for the country. He will simply pass his time as he has done in his previous terms. He lacks decision making power to solve the grave problems which the country is facing now.
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and his PML(N) government has sold people of Pakistan to IMF.
Nawaz Sharif has cheated the nation by giving false hopes during the election campaign before May 11, 2013 elections.
When people can make PML(N) party as majority party, it is the same people who will get Nawaz Sharif down from heaven to earth.
Nawaz Sharif, Just wait few more months and you will see the result, how people of Pakistan will reject you once and for all.
You and your brother Shahbaz Sharif are liars.
Now people of Pakistsn has seen your real faces and will not fall into your trap any more.
The agitation will start from Karachi and it will go up to Khyber.
Nawaz Sharif will not be able to stand on his own feet and finally the Empire of Nawaz Sharif will fall down.
We want a new government in Pakistan, no more such people who pose themselves as Sharif's, but actually cheat the nation by giving false hopes.
just like he and his brother now CM of punjab has claimed to resolve all our problems earlier this is also a fake statement made by him. nothing new every newly elected government used to criticize previous governments i remember PML N statements about mobile tax now they are exactly following the foot prints of Mr Zardari. if they can't control the inflation now what will make them do this after sum tym as there are no chances of pakistan becoming a powerful economy in 2,3 yrs they shud'nt lie to us
Electricity tariff rise should be withdrawn in first place and when people are able to pay then they should be asked because govt can run its business in current condition but many poor people will have to sell their body parts and children to survive the onslaught of current drone of inflation. Most importantly govt should catch the big defaulters and not take the already law-abiding citizens for-granted.
shair bano shair!!
Sir, Please stop promising things that simply are not possible ! Pakistan's economic woes are likely to increase during your tenure ! The chances of Pakistan's economic turnaround over next decade are as good as me winning lottery ticket !
@Ehsan: Whether you care to live in denial or not, Pakistan needs to do away with electricity subsidies.
PML N is doing absolutely the right thing. It's communicating the difficult message that subsidies need to be done away with and carrying out.
The cancer would have continued with populist PPP and PTI.
You can't spend next 5 years hiding behind criticizing the previous governments. Seems like PMLN does only one thing and that is blaming others for all their ills. Grow up nawaz, it's not 1990s anymore.
Was never a big NS fan, but Pakistan's problems are extremely complex and challenging. This economic adjustment painful for all of us (specially the vulnerable segment of society), but this coupled with tax increases are necessary for the long-term revival of the economy.
Exactly how he promised to turn around Pakistan's situation in no time? Fake mandate Fake promises!
Again making false promises like his brother did before elections that his party would get rid of load shedding in 6 months.
Difficult and long term solutions are needed rather than quick fixes like last government. Good Luck Mr. prime Minister
It is again a lip service to the nation and masses. The PML (N) Chief and Prime Minister of Pakistan again deceiving their mandates in all over country especially in Punjab. Nothing is going to be reduced and it is long way to go for the Government to complete the power projects. Till now no any power project has started it is only verbally announced.
No any power project has started in the country in its true letter and spirit. The masses especially the white color people will be ruined by this power tariff hike because the businessmen will also shift this power tariff increase to their respective consumers. Ultimately the poor people, middleclass, blue colored and white colored people will be worst affected.
All dramas have now finished by Supreme Court, NEPRA & OGRA. Now people must be ready to swell this poisionous pills for them. The same Nawas Sharif was delivering his pre election speeches and saying that Aam admi ka bura haal kar diya hai PPP ki hukumat log khud kushiyan karne par majboor hain.
Now people are passing their happies lives in regime of Nawaz Sharif. The third inning of PML (N) is very worst for them also and their graph has also fallen badly. Will people of Pakistan will imagine or not now irrespective of class, region, party support the common people now used to say that Zardari Government was better than Nawaz.
Anyhow now time has come for all leading parties like PTI, PPP,PAT, Awami Party, MQM, ANP to join hands and form a Coalition to give tough time to the present government.
Great example of why politicians shouldn't be in the rate setting business - it's one of the reasons your broke. At a minimum people should pay the actual cost of the energy - not a subsidized rate designed to get votes.