Govt would not buy electricity after March 2025, NA briefed

ISLAMABAD, Jan 15 (SABAH): The National Assembly was informed today (Wednesday) that the government will not purchase electricity after March this year as authorization has been given for the creation of an Independent Electricity Market.

Minister for Energy Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari told the House during the Question Hour that the Independent Electricity Market will enable the consumers to purchase electricity from multiple suppliers.

The Minister said contracts have been reviewed with over twenty-eight IPPs, benefiting the national exchequer to the tune of 1457 billion rupees. He said since June last year the per unit electricity tariff for industries has been reduced by eleven rupees and for the rest of the country by four rupees.

The Minister for Energy further shared that the electricity tariff for the EV charging stations has been reduced to thirty-nine rupees from seventy-one rupees per unit.

Awais Ahmed Leghari said special units have been established to improve recoveries and check power pilferage. He said the result of this initiative has been positive and is being expanded. He said that there is no proposal to revisit the slab system. However, the government is working on a number of initiatives to reduce the burden on the common man.

Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said advanced metering infrastructure has been introduced in all Discos and is being implemented in phases to ensure accurate billing and increased customers’ satisfaction. He further said conditions for the privatization of power distribution companies will be met by the end of this month.

Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar told the House that ICT Senior Citizens Council has been reconstituted which will soon hold its meeting. He said approval of the relevant rules shall be made part of the agenda of the meeting.

Responding to a question, Parliamentary Secretary on Foreign Affairs Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal said Pakistan and China are committed to ensuring CPEC’s success for mutual benefit. She said recent agreements and consensus between the top leadership of the two countries during high level visits have focused on advancing the Phase-II of CPEC, which includes industrialization, development of the Special Economic Zones, transfer of technology and development of Gwadar Port.

Regarding enhanced people to people contact, the Parliamentary Secretary said twenty thousand Chinese nationals are working in Pakistan while twenty-eight thousand Pakistani students are studying in China.

Responding to a Calling Attention Notice, Parliamentary Secretary Dr Darshan said only two cases of human metapneumovirus have so far been reported in Islamabad and the government is fully vigilant in this regard.

The National Assembly today adopted a motion, expressing its deep gratitude to President Asif Ali Zardari for his address to both Houses assembled together on 18th April last year.

Winding up discussion, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar commended the President for ensuring continuity of democratic journey of Pakistan, promoting patience and tolerance in the country’s politics, giving identity and strengthening the federating units. The House will now meet again tomorrow at 2 p.m.