Govt to recover up to Rs14.23 per unit in fuel cost from consumers

Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan on Monday told the parliament that the government would recover Rs9.90 to Rs14.24 per unit outstanding fuel costs from consumers of less than 300 units in an 8-month staggered schedule. Mr Dastgir said an additional surcharge of Rs3.82 per unit would also be imposed on those using above 300 units to fund power sector loans under the insistence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Testifying before the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Power, Mr Dastgir said the government had to satisfy the IMF on each and everything of the power sector after discussing all the facts and figures as the fund wanted an immediate increase in electricity rates to reach an agreement for an economic bailout. The meeting of the panel was presided over by MNA Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari. In addition to this substantial fund-raising from the consumers, the Power Division has also sought about Rs300 billion in next year’s budget for development projects to overcome system challenges like theft control and technical loss reduction.