Power tariff: ICCI slams Rs0.6 per unit additional surcharge

ICCI says additional surcharge will affect business activities and make the common man’s life miserable

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) while slamming the government’s move to impose 60 paisa per unit additional surcharge on power tariffs has demanded its immediate revocation.

The ICCI said that the additional surcharge will affect business activities and make the common man’s life miserable, said a press release.

ICCI President Muzammil Hussain Sabri said that the government instead of lowering electricity prices in the wake of a substantial decline in oil prices in the international market has opted to increase it to appease the International Monetary Fund.

“The move will further put a strain on doing business and bring more problems especially for those already paying heavy bills,” he said.

He said that power consumers were already paying 50 paisa to Rs1.50 per unit and with the imposition of 60 paisa per unit additional surcharge, they will have to pay more than Rs2 per unit.



Sabri said that the existing average power tariff in Pakistan was around Rs16.95/unit — the highest in the region — while the average power tariff in India and Bangladesh was reportedly Rs7.36 and Rs5.47 respectively.

He urged the government to review the pro-furnace oil policy and make all possible efforts to exploit cheaper alternatives for electricity generation in order to decrease production cost, facilitate business activities, attract more investment and promote exports.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2014.