The government of Pakistan is gearing up to increase the base tariff of electricity by nearly Rs8 per unit in phases between July and September, reported PEN on Thursday.
Earlier, the government was mulling making the increase through a one-time hike. However, the leadership has changed its decision.
Electricity prices have been rising for the past few months and the government has decided to increase the base tariff from Rs16.91 per unit to Rs24.82 per unit for consumers of power distribution companies.
The increase, which is a part of conditions laid down by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the revival of its $6 billion bailout programme, will be implemented in phases.
The hike will place a huge burden on the common man. Fuel adjustment charges and other costs would be in addition to the base tariff.
On June 3, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) approved an average increase of Rs7.91 per unit in base tariffs of power distribution companies (Discos) for fiscal year 2022-23, taking it to Rs24.82 per unit from existing rate of Rs16.91 per unit, a move that had been agreed with the IMF and World Bank.
The regulator recommended the massive increase in tariffs at a time when citizens are facing load-shedding of 10 to16 hours daily as the government has been unable to purchase expensive imported fuels like furnace oil, LNG and coal.
On Monday, Nepra approved an increase of Rs7.9 per unit in the tariff of ex-Wapda distribution companies for the month of May under the monthly Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) mechanism.