Power tariff cut by 12 paisa: Reduction in utilities prices soon
By Ihtasham ul Haque
ISLAMABAD, Dec 10: The cabinet on Tuesday decided to reduce the prices of various utilities and as a first step, slashed power tariff by 12 paisa per unit with immediate effect.
“The cabinet has decided to give certain relief to the common man by reducing the prices of essential utilities like power, gas, ghee, sugar, flour, etc.,” Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad told newsmen after the first meeting of the Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali’s cabinet.
However, he pointed out, electricity prices were being reduced by 12 paisa per unit for all consumers — domestic, industrial, commercial and agricultural.
“The cabinet also decided to seriously look into the issue of drug prices with a view to reducing them,” he said, adding that the availability of life-saving drugs on reduced prices would be ensured by the government.
Mr Ahmad said that all the concerned ministries had been told to work out the details of reducing the prices of various utilities. “And the next cabinet meeting will take up the issue of reducing the prices of gas, water, ghee, etc.,” he said.
The National Electricity Power Regulatory Authority, he said, had been directed to make adjustments to ensure the relief to consumers.
The minister did not believe that the World Bank and the IMF would raise any serious objections over the cabinet decision. “We are elected representatives and know how to deal with the international agencies,” he said confidently.
The cabinet, he said, had discussed many other issues, including the law and order situation, economy, investment and relations with India with particular reference to the postponement of the Saarc summit.
In reply to a question, Mr Ahmad regretted that Pakistan had to postpone the Saarc summit due to what he termed an unreasonable attitude of the Indian government. “But we do hope that Prime Minister Vajpayee will visit Pakistan some time in future to improve relations between the two countries.”
DEVELOPMENT FUNDS: The information minister said the cabinet had approved Rs3.5 billion development funds to be offered to the MNAs. “Every MNA, whether he belongs to the ruling party or the opposition, will be offered Rs10 million every year for undertaking development schemes,” he elaborated.
However, he pointed out, since six months had left in the current financial year, the MNAs would be given Rs5 million each. The sectors like health, education and power would be given preference for undertaking new development schemes, he said.
The minister insisted that elected representatives needed to be given funds so that they could look after the interests of their constituencies.
He told a reporter that there would be no conflict of interest between the MNAs and the district Nazims as they both would work for the interest of their voters.
Mr Ahmad said that the prime minister was concerned about unemployment and he had given new directives to the deal with the issue. The issue, he said, would again come up at the next cabinet meeting.
In reply to a question, he said the cabinet had not discussed the formation of the government in Sindh. Nevertheless, he recalled, the prime minister had said on more than one occasion that the majority party had the right to form its government in Sindh. “And if any party proves that it has the majority, it will certainly be allowed to form the government there.”
Ruling out the possibility of a governor’s rule in Sindh, the minister said: “There is no deadlock as such and we are at it to resolve it as quickly as possible”.
His comments were sought on PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto’s statement that the new elected government would not even last for six months. “This could be BB’s wish and cannot become a news item,” he said, claiming that she would not return to Pakistan even next year.
