Tariff troubles

On the one hand the government talks about providing relief to the people while on the other hand it has increased power tariffs sharply. Passing the cost of line losses and corrupt practices in Gencos and Discos onto consumers has added to their miseries. The government’s failure to import LNG at the right time and at reasonable prices has further exacerbated the situation. The Nandipur Power Project is another example of its inefficiency.
While the government may have shortened the long duration periods of loadshedding, the ever-increasing power tariffs are fuelling inflation. There are plans to generate energy through alternate sources like coal and solar power which will cost over Rs10 per unit. The government seems to be helpless before the petroleum mafia which, with the help of the bureaucracy, is allegedly hindering progress towards tapping alternate energy sources. The government claims it will end loadshedding by 2018 by producing around 10,000MW of additional electricity. However, this will be of little relief to the people if electricity tariffs remain high.
Air-Cdre (r) Mohammad Yaqoob Khan
Rawalpindi