Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has informed that a committee has been formed to contemplate on providing relief to power consumers using 200 to 300 units while announcing that no fuel adjustment charges will be taken from 56% electricity users, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing a presser in Islamabad on Friday, the finance minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a committee to look into the matter as how the consumers using between 200 and 300 units could be facilitated.
Chairing a meeting today, Prime Minister Shehbaz directed to implement the relief announced for the consumers using up to 200 units in 24 hours. He said the electricity bills be reduced as per the announced relief in the given timeframe. He also directed the staff of DISCOs to work round-the-clock for correction of the bills.
Miftah said that the power consumers got fuel adjustment charges for the month of May. The electricity which was produced in May was very pricey, he added.
He clarified that those who had not yet paid the electricity bills would be issued with corrected ones without fuel price adjustment. He said those who had already paid the bills, the adjustment would be made in September bills.
He assured that the government would not take fuel adjustment charges from 56% electricity users.
On the IMF loan programme, the finance minister expressed his hope that the Fund would soon release the tranche. He said that Pakistan had got assurances for the $4 billion financing gap.
“Pakistan has fulfilled all the requirements of the IMF and the country will receive the next tranche after its board meeting on Monday,” he added.
The finance minister said that the UAE would invest $2 billion in Pakistan while Saudi Arabia would provide oil worth $1billion on deferred payment.
He also revealed that Qatar would make $3 billion worth investment in Pakistan.
Miftah rejected speculations of purchase of Roosevelt Hotel and PIA by Qatar. There have been no talks in this regard, he asserted.
The finance minister, however, clarified that Qatar had evinced interest in the long-term lease and management control of airports and construction of some facility at seaport. He said Qatar had also shown interest in the LNG plants and solar power projects.
He said Pakistan intended to install solar power projects of 8,000 megawatts which would help bring down the prices of electricity.
Miftah also said that Qatar might also invest in the stock market.