ISLAMABAD, Aug 16: The Chairman, Tariff Rationalization Committee, Mr Mirza Hamid Hassan, presented an interim report regarding reducing/ rationalization of power tariff to Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao here on Saturday.

A press release issued here on Saturday said that Tariff Rationalization Committee was constituted by the Minister on the directives of prime minister to reduce and rationalize power tariff in the country for providing relief to the common man.

The committee has representation from all stakeholders including experts, Wapda and Ministry of Water and Power. Mr Sherpao appreciated deliberations of the committee. A final report of the committee is expected in six weeks’ time.

“We want to ameliorate the lot of the common man through rationalized tariff. Reduced power tariff will not only help the common man but also reduce input costs of our industrial goods. This will give a competitive edge to our products in the international market,” Mr Sherpao said.

The minister said that diversifying the country’s energy resources was the need of the hour. He said that Power Policy 2002 was focusing on use of indigenous resources. He said that far-flung areas of the country could not be electrified from the national grid and “we are working on providing electricity through community participation.”

“In northern areas, where hydropower potential is available, communities shall run such projects, whereas in southern regions of the country, a network of power stations based on alternative energy resources such as coal, wind and solar energy shall be established.

“This will reduce transmission losses of Wapda and reduce the tariff in country,” Mr Sherpao added.

“We are working on zero hydel concept, where small hydropower stations shall be constructed on canals in plain areas which will revolutionize Pakistan’s power production potential,” said the minister. Tariff would be further reduced when the ongoing hydropower projects are completed which will improve thermal to hydel ratio,” he added.