ISLAMABAD: Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan said that Pakistan’s Develops Strategy to Curb Power Sector Circular Debt and the consequences of the Energy Tariff for consumers have not yet been finalized.
This is because it is connect to the strategy developed to address the power sector’s circular debt. During a press conference, the Minister stated that he would provide the media with detailed information regarding power sector issues in the next few days.
The Circular Debt Management Plan (CDMP) will also be share with the media.
The Minister shows confidence in the government’s efforts to effectively control the flow of circular debt, citing positive statistics. Substantial payment decided to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and Government Power Plants (GPPs) at the end of June 2023. As a result, he anticipated significant improvement in the circular debt numbers.
khurram emphasizes that once the final figures for circular debt are determines, the need for further increases in electricity tariffs would be minimal.
Regarding the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) demand for an increase in the base tariff of electricity, the Minister stated that he is not personally aware of the exact requirement, except for what the Finance Minister had mentioned on national television.
Khurram Dastgir Khan said that if it is proven that bills for June 2023 were issued without actual meter readings, strict action will be taken against the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) officials.
He regrets over the electricity supply issues experienced in the last days of June 2023, attributing them to the high demand caused by intense heat. He mentioned that 76 percent of feeders with a loss rate of 20 percent are exempt from load shedding.
He further explained that Category I and II feeders, with a recovery rate of over eighty percent, experience less than two hours of load shedding. The Minister expressed satisfaction with electricity generation, highlighting that Tarbela is operating at full capacity.
Acknowledging that Pakistan is currently facing numerous challenges in the economic, foreign policy, and energy sectors, the Minister expressed confidence that the upcoming general elections will result in the election of a strong government capable of addressing these issues and leading the country toward development.
