-Plans to embark on two-day official visit to Qatar today
-Doha to give $2 billion in bilateral support to ease Pakistan’s funding crunch
-Pakistan will also receive $1 billion in Oil financing from Saudi Arabia
-Finance Minister meets his Qatari counterpart Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari
By Ali Imran
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday took strict notice of public complaints on inflated electricity bills and directed authorities to submit an urgent report and recommendations over the matter.
Chairing a meeting in Islamabad, the premier instructed officials concerned to submit a detailed report with recommendations regarding public complaints on electricity bills on priority basis.
“Khadim-e-Pakistan is answerable to his people for resolution of their grievances. I am committed to speaking truth to my people,” he said.
Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir, Special Assistant to PM Ahad Cheema and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.
The development comes after scores of people in several parts of the country took to the streets in protest against inflated power bills of both domestic and industrial connections. Last week, farmers of several villages in Punjab blocked the motorways for traffic for hours, chanting slogans against the Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO).
The protesters were carrying electricity bills, demanding that the government issue bills according to the units consumed.
Last month, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) allowed distribution companies to charge an additional Rs155 billion to compensate for the higher fuel generation cost in June. NEPRA allowed unpreceden¬ted fuel cost adjustments (FCA) of Rs11.37 to Karachi power utility K-Electric and Rs9.89 per unit to electricity distribution companies previously owned by WAPDA, or Discos.
The higher electricity rates would be charged to all consumers in the billing month of August, except those whose monthly power consumption is fewer than 50 units.
Earlier, the government had also announced an increase of Rs7.91 per unit in average base tariff across the country in three phases starting with effect from July. It had approved Rs1.55 per unit increase in base tariff across the country under a quarterly adjustment.
Meanwhile, PMO said in a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Qatar on Tuesday for a two-day official visit on the invitation of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
“This will be the prime minister’s first visit to the State of Qatar since assuming office in April 2022,” according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
PM Shehbaz will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including key members of the cabinet.
During the visit, the prime minister will hold in-depth consultations with the Qatari leadership.
“The two sides will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on advancing energy-related cooperation, deepening trade and investment ties, and exploring greater employment opportunities for Pakistanis in Qatar.”
Views on a range of regional and international issues of mutual interest would also be exchanged, the statement added.
The premier will also engage with leading Qatari and Pakistani business leaders, investors and entrepreneurs during his visit.
He will also visit “Stadium 974” in Doha, where he would be briefed on the extensive preparations undertaken by the Qatari government to host the FIFA World Cup.
“Pakistan and Qatar enjoy close and cordial fraternal ties, rooted deep in shared faith, mutual trust and understanding, and close cooperation.”
The statement said the relationship between the two countries was marked by growing collaboration in all fields of bilateral interest as well as close coordination on regional and international issues.
Qatar is home to more than 200,000 Pakistanis, who are contributing to the progress, prosperity and economic development of the two brotherly countries, it added.
The PM’s Office said the premier’s visit to Qatar will impart a renewed impetus to deepening cooperation between the two countries in diverse fields and further strengthen their growing economic partnership.
In order to help ease Pakistan’s funding crunch and consequent risk of default, Qatar is expected to give Islamabad funds worth $2 billion in bilateral support.
Ahead of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) board meeting scheduled to be held on August 29, Pakistan has secured financing worth $4 billion from friendly countries — which was a prerequisite to reviving the stalled Fund programme.
Pakistan will also receive $1 billion in oil financing from Saudi Arabia and a similar amount in investments from the UAE.
State Bank of Pakistan Acting Governor Murtaza Syed in a briefing said: “All the funds are expected over twelve months.”
Syed said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is travelling to Qatar on August 23 and 24 and an announcement of the assistance from Doha may or may not be announced during the trip.
Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail met his Qatari counterpart Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari to discuss bilateral relations and explore areas of joint cooperation.
The assistance will improve the position of the foreign exchange reserves and will further strengthen the local rupee — which was the best performer globally this month according to data tracked.
