October 21, 2008	Tuesday	Shawwal 21, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Oct 20: President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani have directed the water and power ministry to ensure uniform electricity tariff structure across the country with immediate effect.

The two leaders were briefed by Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Monday about measures to overcome a shortage of 5,000 megawatts.

Sources told Dawn Mr Ashraf observed that the power system needed over Rs50 billion to enable independent power producers (IPPs) and the Water and Power Development Authority to function properly.

They said the president and the premier were informed that oil and gas supplies to IPPs had been stopped on account of non-payment, resulting in a considerable decline in power generation.

The sources said the minister told the two leaders that he had tried his best to bring down loadshedding to six hours a day. He, however, had to allow up to 11 hours power cut in rural areas and nine hours in urban areas as it was the “sole solution”.

The president and prime minister directed the Karachi Electric Supply Company to issue revised bills incorporating the readjustment in the tariff structure.

They also ordered the Pakistan State Oil to ensure supply of furnace oil to power generation companies.

Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tareen, Special Assistant to the PM on Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar also attended the briefing.

Meanwhile, Leader of the House in Senate Mian Raza Rabbani said in a statement that the KESC management was not authorised to increase tariff for five years after its privatisation in Nov 2005.

He said the third increase in tariff by KESC in just one year on the pretext of oil price hike was “unreasonable”.

Mr Rabbani urged the utility not to disconnect connections of defaulters till an agreement was reached with them.