-PM rolls out power relief package for small, medium Industries
-Announces 50% cut in electricity bills for SMEs
-Rejects the closure of businesses, industries
By Uzma Zafar
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday announced a major relief package of power tariff for small and medium industries to help reduce their production cost, enhance exports, and create wealth.
Speaking to media alongside members of his cabinet, Prime Minister Khan said electricity supplied to the country’s industries is 25 per cent costlier than that provided in regional countries.
Unveiling the package, he said small and medium industries that will use additional power as compared to their previous bills will be supplied electricity at a 50 per cent reduced rate from November 1 until June 30.
For example, he explained, if an industrial unit would buy electricity at a rate of 16 rupees per unit and now it will get the same on 50 per cent discount on consuming additional electricity. He said it has also been decided to provide additional electricity at 25 per cent discounted rates to all the industries, including big and small units, for next three years.
PM Khan said the electricity will be provided to industries on off-peak hours’ basis throughout the year.
He said it was unfortunate that our industrial products could not compete with other countries due to expensive electricity as a result of costly power agreements signed by the previous governments.
The premier said this package will reduce cost of production, enhance the country’s exports, and create wealth. He said due to prudent economic policies of the government, a record sale of cement, motorcycles, and cars have been witnessed, whereas the construction sector is also progressing at a great pace.
He said this package will be a source of happiness for small industrialists as they will be able to run their units round the clock. Mr. Khan also rejected the closure of businesses, schools and industries again in view of rising novel coronavirus cases during its second wave in Pakistan. PM Imran Khan made the statement while chairing the federal cabinet meeting. A briefing was given to the cabinet members regarding an increase being witnessed in COVID-19 cases. The federal cabinet was told that coronavirus cases are consistently increasing besides a hike in the number of critical patients put on ventilators and mortality rate.
PM Imran Khan said that there is a need to strictly implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), however, the federal government will shut businesses, schools and industries again. He ruled out possibilities to impose lockdown in the country.
He said that the government managed to stabilise the national economy after making efforts. The premier directed making nationals aware of the precautionary measures. During the meeting, the cabinet members also held discussions on electoral reforms.
Earlier on Monday, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar had emphasised the need for taking immediate measures to curb rising cases of the coronavirus. He had tweeted that the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) discussed additional measures to control “the rising spread of Covid-19”.
