The government is actively engaging in discussions with independent power producers (IPPs) to provide relief to the public soon.
During a media interaction with the Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted the formation of committees to reduce electricity bills. However, he noted that implementing these changes might take some time.
Hussain revealed that the government has allocated 50 billion rupees from the current fiscal year’s development budget to subsidize electricity for consumers using up to 200 units.
The subsidy initiative will also extend 10 rupees per unit relief to industries. Furthermore, ongoing negotiations with IPPs include plans to transition energy projects from gas and other sources to coal, which could significantly reduce electricity production costs.
The Minister also mentioned that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed these energy strategies with the Chinese President during his visit to China, emphasizing the potential cost benefits of converting power plants to coal. This conversion is part of a broader strategy to lower energy costs and financially relieve consumers.
In response to queries about the political situation, Hussain stated that the recent cabinet meeting did not address the ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) or its leader, Imran Khan. However, he referenced Khan’s statements about instructing his supporters to protest peacefully at GHQ, noting that this suggests an indirect involvement.
