ISLAMABAD: Blaming the previous Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government for what he called the “woes” the country was faced with, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday announced an exemption from Fuel Price Adjustment (FPA) charges for electricity consumers utilising a maximum of 300 units in August.

The prime minister also wished to rid the country of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) clutches and said the current agreement with the Fund should be the last programme availed by the government.

“Earlier, we gave an FPA exemption to the consumers using less than 200 units and bore the burden of Rs21 billion that covered 48 to 52 per cent of power consumers. But I told my economic team that it was not enough… so today we have decided that the facility should be passed on to the consumers using a maximum of 300 units,” PM Sharif said while addressing a gathering of national and provincial lawmakers. “This (exemption of 300 units) will cover 75pc of the consumers across the country.”

Regarding the IMF programme, the premier said: “We are not fully independent to take our own decisions, as the government sought approval of the IMF even for giving exemption to power consumers.”

Approves solar energy initiative for producing 10,000MW of electricity through solar, wind projects

He said since coming to power, the coalition government had no other option but to take unpopular decisions like multiple petroleum price hikes. He took on former premier Imran Khan for what he called wasting four years by going after his opponents and stopping development projects launched by the previous PML-N government. “I recently met the leadership of Qatar who informed me they had in 2019 offered Imran investment in the power sector, but he remained undecided,” he claimed.

About the resumption of the crucial IMF programme, the PM contended it was not a moment of happiness, as the country was taking on more debt.

Mr Sharif termed the recent flash floods and torrential rains “historic”, calling on the ministers and elected representatives to stay committed during these hard times. “Water has wreaked havoc everywhere from Sukkur to Jaffarabad. In Kalam and Swat, buildings have been washed away and all the tourist areas were a picture of devastation. But let me tell you that all the teams […] the NDMA and everyone else are working day and night to rehabilitate and rescue the flood-affected people.”

He further said the government was giving Rs25,000 as compensation to flood victims across the country via the Benazir Income Support Programme.

“Similarly, a Rs15 billion grant had been given to Sindh, while Rs10bn had been announced for Balochistan and KP,” he added.

The PM also expressed gratitude to Finance Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for sensitising the UN about the destruction after which the world body appealed to the international community for a $160 million emergency relief fund.

Moreover, in order to save billions of dollars in fuel import, the government approved the National Solar Energy Initiative for producing 10,000MW of electricity through solar and wind projects within 10 months.

“Today we have decided to launch solar and wind energy projects to curtail our $20 billion dollar oil import bill,” the prime minister said.

He also announced the convening of a pre-bid conference on Sept 8 or 10 in which 10,000MW solar and wind energy projects would formally be launched.

“Government buildings and tube wells running on diesel will be shifted to solar. Power plants operating on diesel, coal and furnace oil will be partially replaced,” he added.

Mr Sharif further said the electricity being produced through fuel-based projects cost Rs60 per unit, but the government could not supply it to people on that cost compelling it to give huge subsidies. “By establishing alternate energy projects, we can save a big amount given for subsidy and utilise it for the benefit of the people,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2022