‘34% hike in tariff to plunge economy in trouble’

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) has expressed serious concerns over the amendments made in the NEPRA Act through an ordinance to put in place a mechanism for automatic hike in electricity tariff of about Rs.5.36 per unit (34 per cent) over the next 27 months and termed it a dangerous move as it would give a serious blow to the business and investment activities in the country and plunge the economy in deep troubles.
President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that power tariffs in Pakistan were already considered highest in the region, which have caused huge increase in the cost of doing business and rendered our products uncompetitive in world markets.
He said that under the Circular Debt Management Plan (CDMP) of the government envisaged in the ordinance, the average uniform power rate would gradually go up to over Rs.21 per unit, excluding taxes, duties, surcharges and other add-owns in the bills from its current level of over Rs.15 per unit.