PM Shehbaz waives fuel adjustment charges for 17.1 million out of 30 million electricity consumers
DOHA, August 23 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday announced a complete exemption to about 17.1million electricity consumers out of 30 million in the country from paying their fuel adjustment charges (FAC) in the electricity bills. PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the matter of the remaining 130 million consumers is also under review. He said that the FAC was heavily increased in the months of July and August due to the high fuel prices at international market, which is unbearable for the common man. PM Shehbaz Sharif said that he took notice of the matter on the orders of PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and on the desire of the leaders of the coalition parties reviewed the matter, adding that the consultations were also held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He said that 17.1 million electricity consumers will have to not a single penny in form of FAC. PM Shehaz Sharif said that Minister of Power Engineer Khurram Dastagir Khan will announce a press conference today (Wednesday) and will tell the criteria of exemption of fuel adjustment charge. He said that three hundred thousands tube wells have also been given complete exemption from paying the FAC.
While talking to media persons in Doha on Tuesday, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that when they came into power, they had two targets to achieve. He said due to the worse economic policies and bad performance of the previous government the country had reached at the verge of the default. He said that due to the efforts and hard work of the current government the danger of default has been averted. PM Shehbaz Sharif said that to decrease inflation our efforts are going on day and night, adding that though they had not achieved much in the span of hardly few months, but efforts were being made through collective efforts ‘to send back the jinni of price hike back into the bottle’, adding that he is hopeful that the government will succeed on this front in the future days.
PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the fixed tax imposed on the traders was against the spirit of the pre-budget discussion with the traders, adding that the small traders had to face the additional tax, which was not the intension of the government and also not the directions of the government. Shehbaz Sharif said that he has formed committee, which investigate the matter and fix the responsibility. He said that Rs 3,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000 fixed tax on traders has already been abolished and proper notification has been issued, adding that it will create Rs 42 billion gap which will be fulfilled from other sources. He said that the small traders could not be put in this difficulty, adding that the traders did not need to worry about this matter.
As immediate relief measures to the masses, the prime minister said that government had also notified rescinding of levy of fixed taxes on retailers and shopkeepers. He expressed that these measures would provide immediate relief to the masses.
The prime minister said the previous government’s poor performance had resulted in the price hike of commodities, but his government continued its efforts day and night. Shehbaz Sharif said that Qatar is our second home, adding that we have to move forward with good intension and will have to do hard work and shed sweat and blood. PM Shehbaz said that Almighty Allah will change the fate of Pakistan and good time will come. He said that the coalition government will work day and night and will change the fate of Pakistan.
Federal Ministers Dr. Miftah Ismail Ahmed, Khawaja Muhammad Saad Rafique, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Syed Naveed Qamar, Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Senator Syed Faisal Ali Sabzwari and Minister of State for Petroleum Dr. Mussadiq Malik were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with a delegation of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) in Doha on Tuesday. Qatar Investment Authority is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds of the world. Mansoor Bin Ebrahim AL-Mahmoud, CEO, and Sheikh Faisal Thani Al-Thani, Chief Investment Officer of Africa and Asia-Pacific Regions represented the QIA.
This was the first engagement of the Prime Minister, right after his arrival in Doha on his two-day official visit. The Prime Minister was accompanied by key members of the Cabinet and senior officials.
Lauding Qatar’s rapid economic development under the visionary leadership of His Highness the Amir, the Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with Qatar and wanted to upgrade the traditionally warm political ties between the two countries into a comprehensive economic partnership.
The Prime Minister stressed the need to further enhance bilateral economic and investment engagement, particularly in the renewable energy including solar and wind power generation, aviation, maritime, industrial and infrastructure development, and hospitality sectors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underlined Pakistan’s unique geographic and demographic advantages, which combine its strategic location with a huge middle-class market and a large skilled workforce. Highlighting Pakistan’s liberal and business-friendly investment policies, the Prime Minister invited the Qatari side to invest in Pakistan’s energy, aviation, agriculture and livestock, maritime, tourism and hospitality sectors. He also urged Qatari investors to explore the opportunities presented by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (EPEC) to promote regional connectivity and mutual prosperity. The Prime Minister assured full facilitation to QIA through transparent and expeditious processes.
As part of the event, a number of presentations were made by the relevant Ministries highlighting the potential of foreign investment in the fields of food security, energy, maritime, aviation, hospitality and tourism sectors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appreciated the QIA’s rejuvenated interest in investing in Pakistan. It was agreed that designated focal persons on both sides would closely follow-up on the key proposals for investments.
The Prime Minister invited Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mehmoud and Sheikh Faisal Thani Al-Thani to visit Pakistan at their earliest convenience to build on the momentum generated by the visit. Terming Pakistan as a priority country, the QIA delegation expressed keen interest and readiness of the QIA to actively pursue investment opportunities in Pakistan.