Piaf seeks cut in electricity tariff

21 Apr, 2004

Pakistan Industrial & Traders Associations Front (Piaf), while expressing it's concern over delay in announcement of proposed reduction in the electricity prices, has called upon the Prime Minister, Zafarullah Khan Jamali to take personal interest and ensure reduction in electricity prices as was proposed by the task force.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Piaf Chairman Sheikh Muhammad Arshad stated that after repeated increase in tariff for industrial and domestic consumers, electricity prices had become unbearable.
The Task Force constituted by the government proposed reduction in power prices, but the same could not be announced due to objections raised by the departments concerned.
He was of the view that Wapda and Nepra whenever desire could increase rates of the electricity but when it was matter of reduction they always adopt delaying tactics.
He said that expensive electricity had increased input cost manifold. In his view the biggest problem for Pakistani industry in post-WTO and Safta regimes would be the expensive electricity.
Pakistani products could compete the foreign items only if they could get electricity at reduced rates.
He also urged the Prime Minister to reduce electricity prices and initiate working on producing electricity from hydle sources on war footing.

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