Farmers deprived of power concessions under IMF diktats.

ISLAMABAD -- As a part of the conditions laid forth by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to unlock more than $1 billion in funding, the coalition government has discontinued the power subsidy given to agriculture consumers.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a Kissan Package for the farmers in October 2022 in the wake of the unprecedented flash floods which was later notified by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) in December last year.

However, after providing the subsidy for two months, the government has now discontinued the package with immediate effect owing to the conditions set by the Washington-based lender.

'Federal Cabinet [...] has approved the Discontinuation of Kissan Package for base rate relief of Rs3.60/kWh to private agriculture consumers from 1st March 2023,' the notification issued by the Power Division read.

It mentioned that the decision of the federal cabinet was conveyed for immediate implementation and necessary action.

The premier announced the relief package for the growers due to cataclysmic flooding caused by historic monsoon rains that washed away roads, crops, infrastructure and bridges, killing over 1,700 people and affecting more than 33 million, over 15% of the country's 220 million population.

In concurrence with the announcement, the NEPRA had reduced the power tariff by Rs3.60 per unit at the then-base rate of Rs16.80 after which...

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