Electricity price increased by Rs1.95 per unit: Umar Ayub.

ISLAMABAD -- Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub announced increasing the price of electricity per unit by Rs1.95 on Thursday, citing decisions made by the former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government as the reason for the raise in tariff.

Ayub's announcement came during a presser held with Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar and Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Power Tabish Gauhar in Islamabad.

We are going to have to take the price of electricity up by Rs1.95 due to the flawed policies of the previous government in the energy sector," Ayub said.

The previous government planted landmines for us with its policies, causing for us to fall in trouble as we try to manage the affairs of the country," Ayub said, adding that, "If we look at their policies, the increase in the power tariff stands at Rs2.18 per unit."

The minister further said, "We have to somehow overcome the deficit left behind by the PML-N government, and adding that, "We have to make this decision to ensure that the industries continue to function."

Furthermore, SAPM Gauhar informed that the government will be shutting down gas supply to power-linked units of the country from February 1. "Agreements with the IPPs [Independent Power Producers] regarding 'take and pay' clause will end by the first of next month," he stated.

Gauhar also announced that the government will shut down the old power plants with a capacity of 3,500 megawatts.

"The past few years have witnessed a drop in the demand for electricity," the SAPM added. "We are going to initiate a dialogue with the provinces regarding power theft and bill recoveries," he further...