ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s main electric power regulator is likely to increase the power tariff by Rs6.1 per unit in March electricity bills, local media reported on Sunday, days after a historic hike in the prices of petroleum products.
The possible hike in power tariff will add to the burden of the masses, who are already reeling from inflationary pressures in Pakistan due to rising food and fuel prices worldwide.
The increase in power tariff will come on the back of fuel price adjustment for the month of January, as the country paid a high price for producing power from furnace oil and diesel, the Dawn newspaper reported.
“In an application, the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) has informed the power sector regulator that the net cost of electricity production was Rs12.61 per unit during the month [of January],” the report read.
“The reference fuel charges set by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) stand at Rs6.51 per unit, or kilowatt hour. The CPPA has sought an increase of Rs6.10 per unit on account of Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) for January.”
NEPRA has summoned a public hearing on the matter on February 28 and invited all concerned entities and citizens to present their points of view on the CPPA demand, according to the report.
The regulator generally accepts the CPPA’s demands regarding fuel price adjustment.
Pakistan earlier this week increased the prices of petrol, high-speed diesel, kerosene and light diesel oil, with petrol going up by a record Rs12.03 per liter.
After the increase of Rs12.03, petrol is now available for Rs159.86 and high-speed diesel at Rs154.15, a rise of Rs9.53.
Kerosene is being sold for Rs126.56 per liter after an increase of Rs10.08, while light diesel oil is available for Rs123.97 after a Rs9.43 hike.
The government has faced criticism for increasing fuel prices during the last few months, but top officials argue the country still offers petroleum products at the cheapest rates in the region.
Pakistan fixes prices of petroleum products on a fortnightly basis to pass on the impact of fluctuating international prices to consumers.
In January, NEPRA jacked up the power tariff by Rs4.30 per unit, allowing distribution companies (DISCOs) to charge consumers an additional fuel cost for their November 2021 bills.
After historic fuel price hike, Pakistan regulator likely to increase power tariff by Rs6.1
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After historic fuel price hike, Pakistan regulator likely to increase power tariff by Rs6.1
- Hike in power tariff will come on the back of fuel price adjustment for the month of January
- The country’s power regulator usually accepts demands regarding the fuel price adjustment
At ECO meeting, Pakistan proposes ‘Regional Innovation Hub’ to curb natural disasters
- Pakistan hosts high-level 10th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction in Islamabad
- Innovation hub to focus on early warning technologies, risk informed infrastructure planning
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has proposed to set up a “Regional Innovation Hub on Disaster Risk Reduction” that focuses on early warning technologies and risk informed infrastructure planning, the Press Information Department (PID) said on Wednesday, as Islamabad hosts a high-level meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
The ECO’s 10th Ministerial Meeting on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) is being held from Jan. 21-22 at the headquarters of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in Pakistan’s capital.
The high-level regional forum brings together ministers, and senior officials from ECO member states, representatives of the ECO Secretariat and regional and international partner organizations. The event is aimed to strengthen collective efforts toward enhancing disaster resilience across the ECO region, the PID said.
“Key agenda items include regional cooperation on early warning systems, disaster risk information management, landslide hazard zoning, inclusive disaster preparedness initiatives, and Pakistan’s proposal to establish a Regional Innovation Hub on Disaster Risk Reduction, focusing on early warning technologies, satellite data utilization, and risk-informed infrastructure planning,” the statement said.
The meeting was attended by delegations from ECO member states including Pakistan, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Representatives of regional and international organizations and development partners were also in attendance.
Discussions focused on enhancing regional coordination, harmonizing disaster risk reduction frameworks, and strengthening collective preparedness against transboundary and climate-induced hazards impacting the ECO region, the PID said.
ECO members states such as Pakistan, Türkiye, Afghanistan and others have faced natural calamities such as floods and earthquakes in recent years that have killed tens of thousands of people.
Heavy rains triggered catastrophic floods in Pakistan in 2022 and 2025 that killed thousands of people and caused damages to critical infrastructure, inflicting losses worth billions of dollars.
Islamabad has since then called on regional countries to join hands to cooperate to avert future climate disasters and promote early warning systems to avoid calamities in future.
