Two percent increase in power tariff has irked domestic and commercial power consumers in the country. The government has increased power tariff by 50 percent in last two and a half years and some 26 percent during last one year. The rise in power tariff is being made when consumers are deprived of uninterrupted supply since November 2007.
Talking to Business Recorder, the pedestrians on The Mall said latest tariff increase amidst 13.5 percent inflation rate is equivalent to adding miseries to the lives of the poor people. They said businesses were already suffering but the government was following the IMF and World Bank dictation blindly. According to them, public temper was getting out of control and they would come on streets at any point of time.
The industrialists, on the other hand, took it as last nail in the coffin. Some textile millers said tariff difference between the electricity and gas consumers was widening abnormally and present tariff increase would close down more units in the near future.
It may be noted that recently removed Managing Director Pepco had advised Pepco-fed textile millers to prepare a report dilating upon the socio-economic impact of power increase on industry for appeasing the lenders. Otherwise, he commented he has personally been in favour of special tariff for Pepco-fed textile units. It is worth mentioning that a large number of textile units have already been closed down due to unbearable power prices and more are about to close down.
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