Opposition sharply reacts to power tariff hike

ISLAMABAD, Oct 1: The government’s decision to make a steep increase in electricity tariff has evoked strong reaction from the opposition.

Three major opposition parties — the PPP, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) — have announced that they will hold protests against the increase in and outside parliament.

The JUI-F which is allied with the government has also called upon the government to review the decision which would add to hardship of people already suffering from back-breaking inflation.

The MQM and PPP submitted on Tuesday adjournment motions to the Senate and National Assembly secretariats, respectively, and the PTI announced plans to hold demonstrations across the country.

The PPP and MQM have said that people were already finding it difficult to make both ends meet because of sky-rocketing prices of items of daily use and the increase in electricity tariff would add to their misery.

And a JUI-F spokesperson issued a relatively mild statement urging the government to spare the masses of another hike in electricity tariff.

PTI chief Imran Khan termed the increase “a criminal act” and said it would make the people not only pay for the cost of electricity but also for the cost of corruption and incompetence.

The latest increase in electricity tariff and fuel prices, he added, was yet another anti-poor and anti-middle class action taken by the PML-N government.

He said in a statement that instead of nabbing power thieves, recovering outstanding bills from defaulters, increasing the tax net and cracking down on tax-evaders, the government was continuing to take one anti-people measure after another.

He warned of forceful protests at all forums if the government did not review the decision.

The PTI chief asked the government to explain why it had increased fuel prices when crude prices had declined during September.

Meanwhile, the government has defended what it called a difficult decision.

Information Minister Parvez Rashid said: “Partial subsidy on more than 200 units has been withdrawn.”

He said power rates for agricultural sector had been reduced and flat rates had been introduced for agricultural consumers.

He said the government would still give Rs135 billion subsidy to 9.2 million households consuming 200 units or less per month.

“The government is not charging a single penny over the cost of production,” he said.

He claimed that the government had shared the tariff revision plan with the Council of Common Interests and the nation in its energy policy.