The federal government is going to pay the electricity bills for small businesses across the country for the months of May, June and July. Federal Minister of Industries and Production Hammad Azhar announced this. He also announced a package for labourers laid off during the coronavirus lockdown during a Monday afternoon press conference. He said Rs75 billion has been allocated for the package.
Pakistan has initiated talks with central Asian countries of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan for electricity export during winter under the (Central Asia-South Asia) (CASA-1000) agreement. As per the agreement, Pakistan will import 1,000MW of electricity per day at 9.50 cents per unit in summer from May to October. A 750 kilometer-long high-voltage direct current (DC) transmission line between Pakistan and Tajikistan via Afghanistan will be built at a cost of $1.7 billion for this purpose.
In a bid to protect the people from fuel adjustment effects in electricity bills, the federal government is offering a subsidy of Rs. 242 billion to domestic consumers. According to Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information, Firdaus Ashiq Awan, only lifeline consumers, who use less than or up to 300 units (kwh) per month, have been given the tariff relief in recent months.
Pakistan Army is all set to generate electricity for its garrisons and establishments across the country to cut their expenditure on power which is estimated to be around Rs 15 billion for 240 MW. As electricity payments act as a huge burden on Army’s budget, Pakistan Army is planning on harnessing renewable energy through solar park and aims to establish 1-5MW solar parks in each garrison, the pilot project will generate 40MW energy.