The government on Saturday dismissed the impression, triggered by a top official's statement, that it was contemplating increase in power tariff due to high oil prices. "The government has not taken any decision regarding increase in power tariff," Minister for Information and Broadcasting Muhammad Ali Durrani told journalists here.
Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman Tariq Hameed on Friday had told National Assembly standing committee that power tariff might go up if the prices of oil were not reduced by the government in line with the declining trend in the international market. The minister said that National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra), and not Wapda is the body empowered to decide the tariff for electricity.
On the issue of Bajaur action, he said the parliament would be taken into confidence. "The parliament is the forum where such issues are debated," he added. Regarding the issue of providing land to a company for development of islands off Port Qasim, he said that the Centre would remove all apprehensions of the provincial government with consensus. Durrani said Pakistan strongly follows policies suited to the advancement of its own national interests, and would never compromise on this principle.