ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) today announced another Rs 2.86 per unit hike in power tariff for the month of March 2022 which will be collected from consumers May-2022 bills.
This fresh hike in power tariff in the name of fuel cost adjustment would cause more than 28 billion rupees extra financial burden on the consumers early next month. This tariff hike coincides with the Eidul-Fitr holidays as the government and NEPRA are endorsing the IMF-dictated programme.
Already overburdened by inflation, increased oil prices, food items, the power consumers are in a shock after hearing the decision of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) pertaining to increase in the power tariff by Rs2.86 under monthly fuel adjustment. Interestingly, the policy-makers, who decide increase in power, gas, and petroleum prices again and again, they all are getting these facilities free of cost from the government along with many other benefits.
A few days ago, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail had already stated that the government would have to discard subsidies programme announced by ex-PM Imran Khan in March.
To fulfill a formality, NEPRA took the decision after conducting hearing on a plea of Central Power Purchasing Agency (CCPA).
The hike will burden the power consumers with additional billions of rupees. Earlier, CPPA had sought increase in power tariff under fuel adjustment for the month of March.
In the month of March 2022, then Prime Minister Imran Khan capped the power tariff and domestic petroleum prices to give relief to the price-hike hit consumers in the country, but change in the government has reversed the relief programme to get IMF loan.
