Govt will review the agreements with IPPs after thorough examination
ISLAMABAD, August 09 (SABAH): Agreement has been struck between Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and Federal Government during the negotiations for brining down the inflation, taxes and electricity bills and initially for providing relief on electricity bills the interest rate will be decreased 5 to 10 percent gradually. The agreement is consisting of seven important points and in this regard 18 points regarding the government steps are also included. The government will review the agreements with the independent power producers (IPPs) after thorough examination. The document of the agreement reached between Jamaat-e-Islami and Government has been released.
Under the agreement the tax on salaried class will be decreased through every possible way. The electricity price per unit will be decreased during next one and half moths. An effective system will be devised for imposing tax on landlords and big land holders. The tax system for traders will be made easy.
The government will review the agreements with the independent power producers (IPPs) after thorough examination. The government has set up empowered taskforce for this purpose, which will present complete its work in one month. The payment of the electricity bills of August 2024 has been postponed for 15 days so that the facility could b given to the consumers. Initially for provision of the relief to the masses on the electricity bills the interest rate will be decreased by 5 to 10 percent gradually, forensic audit of the K-Electric will also be conducted. It will be reviewed to limit the use of 1300 CC vehicles at official level for political, government and administration officials. Free of cost perks and privileges especially free of cost petrol for personal use will be ended.
The agreement reached between the government and Jamaat-e-Islami was singed by Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar Advocate and Minister for Interior Senator Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and JI negotiation team head Liaqat Baloch and other members Ameerul Azim, Nasrullah Randhawa and Farasat Shah.
The agreement, states “It was agreed that the IPPs issue is a serious economic concern. The prime minister and the federal government are committed to reviewing IPPs contracts, with a task force to be established for a thorough examination.”
The task force, expected to complete its work within a month, will include representatives from WAPDA and FPCCI, and will be empowered to recommend measures for reducing electricity tariffs.
In addition, the task force will evaluate power market designs, assess IPPs setups, and propose solutions to manage excess capacity. Recommendations for the task force’s operations will be closely monitored to ensure implementation.