PM unveils three-month electricity relief package for winter season
Liaquat Ali
Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday unveiled a three-month Electricity Relief Package for the winter season providing a relief of up to Rs26.7 per unit for domestic, Rs15.5 for industrial and Rs22.71 for commercial consumers.
The prime minister, addressing an event to commemorate the birth anniversary of Allama Muhammad Iqbal being celebrated on November 9 here, told the gathering of ministers, students, and artists that the relief package would remain in force from December 2024 to February 2025.
“Under the package, the domestic consumers will get a relief of up to Rs 26.7 per unit for their power consumption surpassing 200 units of the protected category. It will help them save Rs11.42 to Rs26 per unit in the three months of winter,” the prime minister said.
Similarly, the industrial sector will save 18-37% or Rs 5.27 to Rs 15.5 per unit under the package to help boost industrial production, growth and livelihoods. The commercial consumers will be given a 34-47% saving or Rs 13.46 to Rs 22.71 per unit subsidy in the package.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the package would stimulate a quantum jump in the country’s economic progress by boosting agriculture, industrial productivity, business activity and exports.
He said that the commitments and vision of the current government were being translated into actions through the relief package that would become the harbinger of improved economic resilience.
Besides thanking the IMF for permitting the government to announce the package, he also commended the cabinet members and relevant senior officers for their efforts and teamwork in working out the relief package.
Coming to the Iqbal Day celebration, he motivated the youth and children to remain resolute in their ambition to achieve a glorious future for the nation.
Highlighting the government’s achievements on the economic front, Prime Minister Shehbaz informed that the foreign remittances in the first quarter of the current fiscal year were record high as the overseas Pakistanis had sent $8 billion in remittances to the country. The Pakistani diasporas were the real ambassadors of the country offshore protecting the national interests and prestige, he added.
He paid tribute to Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal for his revolutionary philosophy that motivated Muslims and non-Muslims all across the world.
He also recited different verses of the poems of Allama Iqbal that advocated for reawakening the passion of leadership, integrity, commitment, determination, courage, hard work, empathy, self-confidence and compassion to emerge as a leading nation in the world.
The prime minister also highlighted the current government’s efforts in reviving the national economy as it was determined to provide the best education facilities to its youth in fields of AI, IT, vocational training, and emerging technologies that would help them regain the glorious status of the nation.
He mentioned that the economic situation was improving as the inflation rate was down to 6.7% from 32%, policy rate down to 15% and expressed the hope that the indicators would boost investment, exports, development in agriculture, livelihoods and businesses.
A short documentary produced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting played featuring the life and philosophy of Allama Iqbal. Renowned singer Shehzad Roy and Dr Masooma Awan sang the famous poems of Iqbal while the young singers Mahnoor Altaf and Ashir Sultan recited “Lab Pe Aati he Dua Ban Ke Tamanna Meri” – a famous hymn written by Allama Iqbal.
Prime Minister Shehbaz duly acknowledged the performance of the young kids and appreciated them warmly for their commendable show.
Federal cabinet members Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Musadik Malik, Jam Kamal Khan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Shaza Fatima Khawaja and other senior government officers also attended the event.
