We will not make false promises nor would we deviate from our responsibilities, says Anwaarul Haq Kakar
\nIslamabad
\nCaretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday stated that the matter of skyrocketing electricity bills is being discussed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that the government would fulfil its obligations to the global lender \u201cat all costs\u201d.
\nSpeaking to senior journalists and anchorpersons in Islamabad, he said the consumers will have to pay the electricity bills.
\nThe statement came days after the IMF refused to immediately approve Pakistan\u2019s request for recovering August\u2019s electricity bills over a period of six months amid raging protests in many parts of the country that continued against back-breaking bills.
\nSo far, the caretaker government has failed to come up with any solution. It is trying to avoid breaching the conditions of the IMF programme that require keeping the overall circular debt at Rs2.310 trillion and timely passing on the increase in electricity prices on account of annual, quarterly and monthly adjustments.
\nThe caretaker prime minister in today\u2019s media interaction said the government has given proposals to the IMF, adding that inflation was not that a big issue to go on a strike.
\n\u201cWe will not make false promises nor would we deviate from our responsibilities. We will let everyone know the measures we cannot take and why,\u201d he added.
\nPM Kakar said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will give the final date for holding the elections and the interim setup would conclude following the elections.
\nThe interim prime minister acknowledged being informed recently about protests concerning inflated electricity bills.
\nHe said that the interim setup does not have any \u201chidden agenda, plans or ambitions\u201d. \u201cIt is not like some oppressive rulers have come to power and were draining the resources of the impoverished,\u201d he added.
\nThe premier also talked about the challenges the country faced in the 1990s when electricity shortages emerged, adding that the governments at that time engaged with independent power producers (IPPs) to augment power generation.
\n\u201cHowever, we failed to anticipate the consequences of these agreements, including pay surcharge,\u201d he remarked. He also highlighted issues within the transmission systems and the billing retrieval process.
\nIn her first public appearance after assuming the responsibility of the interim finance minister, Dr Shamshad candidly told the Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday that the government\u2019s coffers were empty and, therefore, no one should pin any hope for subsidies.
\nShe warned of further increase in power and fuel prices in relation to higher prices in the global markets and lack of availability of any fiscal space for subsidies, said there was no choice but to stick to the IMF programme.<\/p>\n
\u201cPakistan is an import dependent country and the commodity prices have to be passed on, as we do not have the fiscal space and any room for subsidies, which is going to hurt people \u2013 whether in the shape of electricity or fuel prices,\u201d said Dr Shamshad in her policy statement.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, protests and demonstrations against rising inflation were held across the country today, with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) calling a shutterdown strike on September 2.<\/p>\n
The JI has announced that the party will be approaching the Supreme Court to seek judicial assistance over rising electricity costs while the incumbent government burdens the public with conditions imposed by the IMF.<\/p>\n
In various cities across the country, including Karachi, Lahore, Gujar Khan, Okara, Murree, Vihari, Chistian, Multan, Haveli Lakha, DG Khan, Swabi, Mardan and others, protests were held on the call of traders associations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We will not make false promises nor would we deviate from our responsibilities, says Anwaarul Haq Kakar Islamabad Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday stated that the matter of skyrocketing electricity bills is being discussed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that the government would fulfil its obligations to the global lender […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":352923,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-352896","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n