Govt is giving subsidy on electricity; says Qamar Zaman Kaira

Federal Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has said the government is giving subsidy on electricity to share the burden of masses.

While speaking to the media, the minister said the incumbent was buying electricity at Rs 25 per unit from power producers while selling it to the public at Rs 9 per unit, saying it was aware of problems of the people after the rising shortfall of electricity.

He noted, “We know that load shedding has made the lives of people difficult. Unemployment is on the rise and there is shortage of drinking water but unfortunately water level has receded in dams and electricity is not being generated as required”.

Terming the situation protests and demonstrations legitimate and justifiable acts, he rejected the reports that China was ready to provide electricity to Pakistan at Rs 500 for per connection.

In his view, it will take up to five years to set up infrastructure for this project.

The minister said all resources were being utilized to overcome on energy crisis, adding that the PPP-led government had allocated Rs 422 billion in the 2012-13 budget to provide subsidy on electricity while in the previous fiscal year this amount was Rs 50 billion.

He noted, “Work on several energy projects including Bhasha Dam, Thar Coal, Neelam, Kohala and solar energy was in progress and the duration of load shedding would be reduced soon. The country was also facing the consequences of blocking NATO supplies and if we clash with the superpower, the nation will have to face its fallout”.

Commenting on the issue of public transport, he urged the provincial governments and the concerned departments to take immediate measures to adjust fares of public transport and cost of transportation of goods so that the positive effect of its substantial reduction reached the masses.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Jun 18 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Society. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.