PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has demanded the government to immediately withdraw the increase in electricity tariff of 48 paisa per unit on the head of fuel adjustment, terming it detrimental for industries and businesses.
The demand was made by SCCI president Sherbaz Bilour while talking to different delegations of industrialists and traders here on Monday.
Stating that the coronavirus pandemic had left industries and businesses reeling, Bilour said the hike in electricity rate would further escalate industrial productivity as traders would not be able to pay off heavy bills and increase financial depression under the present uncertain and unfavourable conditions.
“The price hike would affect the manufacturing sector which could halt industrialisation in the province,” he added.
The SCCI chief said that National Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) had already made an increase of 48 paisa per unit in the electricity tariff on the head of fuel adjustment for one month in August 2020.
He maintained that the electricity production cost was around Rs3.68 per unit in August while electricity advance fuel cost was Rs3.20 per unit in the afore-stated month, adding that additional recovery would be made from consumers in November due to the business community being burdened with Rs5billion.
“The government’s policies are anti-business and anti-industries,” he alleged.
Bilour urged that the government to provide the business community with relief, emphasising that the miseries of the trading community should be kept in mind before enforcing new policies.
He went on to say that NEPRA’s latest notification of an increase of 83 paisa per unit in the electricity tariff has put an additional burden of Rs10billion on consumers.
He said it is unjustifiable that the government purchased electricity at the cheapest rate from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and is selling it at higher rates to consumers of the same province, wherein production is in surplus and being exported to other parts of the country.
The SCCI chief warned that the continuous surge in electricity tariff would increase production cost that could further push up prices of essential commodities, further affecting the already inflation-hit masses.
