ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national power regulator has cut the prices of electricity by Rs2.12 per unit on account of fuel adjustment charges, it said on Thursday.
The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has to make adjustments in the power tariff on account of any variations in fuel charges on a monthly basis.
The reduction in electricity prices followed a request by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), which had worked out the fuel cost for the month of January.
“The authority... has reviewed and assessed a National Average Uniform decrease of (Rs2.1240/kWh) in the applicable tariff for XWDISCOs on account of variations in the fuel charges for January 2025,” NEPRA said in a notification issued late Thursday.
“XWDISCOs (distribution companies) shall reflect the fuel charges adjustment in respect of January 2025 in the billing month of March 2025.”
The development comes more than a week after Pakistan’s Power Minister Awais Leghari announced a reduction in power tariff for households consuming up to 300 units of electricity and those using agricultural tube-wells.
“By waiving these charges for low-usage consumers and agricultural tube-wells, the government aims to ease the financial burden on farmers and households with limited electricity consumption,” Leghari was quoted as saying by the state-run APP news agency.
Pakistan produces expensive electricity due to a combination of factors including high reliance on imported fossil fuels, inefficient energy mix, substantial transmission and distribution losses and chronic issues like circular debt and regulatory inefficiencies.
The country’s outdated infrastructure and inadequate power plants further exacerbate costs, while underutilization of domestic resources such as hydropower and coal add to the problem.
Additionally, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and complex tariff structures contribute to higher electricity prices. High power cost is one of the key factors that lead to inflation in the country.
Pakistan power regulator cuts tariff on account of fuel price adjustment
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Pakistan power regulator cuts tariff on account of fuel price adjustment
- The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority makes adjustments in power tariff on account of any variations in fuel charges on a monthly basis
- The South Asian country produces electricity with the help of imported fossil fuels, amid underutilization of domestic resources like hydropower, coal
Pakistan’s president defends ongoing strikes in Afghanistan, urges Kabul to dismantle militants
- Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday
- Pakistan’s military says it is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s president on Monday defended his country’s ongoing military strikes in neighboring Afghanistan, saying Islamabad tried all forms of diplomacy before targeting militants operating from Afghan territory, and called on the Taliban government in Kabul to disarm groups responsible for attacks in Pakistan.
Pakistan earlier said it is in “open war” with Afghanistan, alarming the international community. The border area remains a stronghold for militant organizations including Al-Qaeda and the Daesh (Islamic State) group.
“(The Afghan Taliban) must choose to dismantle the terror groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,” Asif Ali Zardari said during a speech to lawmakers, adding that “no state accepts serial attacks on its soil.”
Afghanistan on Thursday launched attacks in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes the previous Sunday. Since then, Pakistan has carried out operations along the border, with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar claiming the killing of 435 Afghan forces and the capture of 31 Afghan positions.
Kabul has denied such claims.
In Afghanistan, the deputy government spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said Pakistan’s military fired mortar shells at a refugee camp in eastern Kunar province, killing three children and injuring three others.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry said Afghan forces carried out strikes targeting a Pakistani military facility near Paktia province, causing “substantial losses and heavy casualties.”
Pakistan’s military did not respond to questions. It has said Pakistan is only targeting Afghan military installations to avoid civilian casualties.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge of violence in recent months and blames it on the outlawed Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP. It operates both inside Pakistan and from Afghan territory.
Islamabad accuses Afghanistan’s Taliban government of providing safe havens for the TTP, which Kabul denies.
The latest cross-border fighting ended a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and Turkiye in October. The two sides failed to reach a permanent agreement during talks in Istanbul.
Zardari reiterated Pakistan’s call for talks, saying, “We have never walked away from dialogue.”
The Pakistani leader again accused Afghanistan of acting as a proxy for India by sheltering militant groups.
“Stop being used by another country as a battlefield for their ambitions,” he said.
Zardari cited a recent report from the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team that described the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan as an extra-regional threat.
