Prime Minister abolished fuel adjustment charges on electricity for 17 million consumers.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif announced a complete exemption from payment of Fuel Adjustment Charges (FAC) in electricity bills to about 17.1 million of the country’s 30 million electricity consumers.
As an immediate relief measure for the public, the Prime Minister said that the government has also notified the refund of fixed taxes to retailers and shopkeepers.
He said that these measures will provide immediate relief to the people.
During his two-day official visit to Qatar, the prime minister, accompanied by members of his delegation, said that when he came to power, he had two goals to achieve.
He said the coalition government had picked up the backlog of the previous government which had left behind a path of poor performance and economic decline and brought the country to the brink of default due to its tyrannical policies, he added but was relentless. Due to the efforts of the coalition government, that threat was averted.
The prime minister said that the poor performance of the previous government resulted in an increase in the prices of commodities, but his government continued its efforts day and night.
He said the coalition government carried over the backlog of the previous government which had left behind a trail of poor performance and economic decline, and the country was on the brink of default due to its tyrannical policies, he added, but Due to the tireless efforts of the current government, that threat was averted.
The prime minister said that due to the poor performance of the previous government, the prices of commodities increased, but his government continued to work day and night to control it. He said that although they have not achieved much, concerted efforts are being made to ‘send the price hike genie back into the bottle’.
Expressing regret, the Prime Minister said that during the discussion on the approval of the first financial budget, the issue of fixed tax on retailers and shopkeepers was discussed but in practice things went wrong which did not reflect the reality.
He said that the imposition of such taxes was against the spirit of what he had discussed, adding that such measures put additional burden on small shopkeepers to pay taxes.
The Prime Minister clarified that this was neither the government’s intention nor had he discussed such a procedure.
He said that a committee has been set up to determine the responsibility on the matter which would submit its report, adding that the process would take some time.
The Prime Minister said that the notification for the abolition of fixed tax of Rs 3000, 6000 and 10000 on shopkeepers have also been issued.
He said such exemption would result in a gap of Rs 42 billion in revenue collection, but the government would make up for it from other sources, as it did not want to create hardship for small shopkeepers.
The Prime Minister assured the retailers and shopkeepers that they need not worry and will not face any problems, as the government has things under control.
On another issue facing the coalition government, he said the fuel adjustment charge is linked to fluctuations in oil prices in international markets, which are being adjusted in electricity bills.
The prime minister said that consumers faced higher fuel adjustment charges during the months of July and August.
He said that he took immediate notice of the matter and on the direction of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and in consultation with the leaders of the coalition parties, he was reviewing the matter during the last few days.
The Prime Minister said that Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has issued clear instructions that such high expenses are not acceptable.
He said it was an irony of fate that he had to consult the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for everything because of the previous regime’s agreement, but now he has successfully negotiated relief.
Regarding his visit to Qatar, the Prime Minister said that it is his second home and he has arrived there to discuss various aspects of bilateral investment, trade and development projects for the development and prosperity of the people of Pakistan.
He said that he was very hurt when he was asked questions about the stalled projects during the last four years of the previous government.
Still, the prime minister said, he had to struggle and sweat for the country’s development and prosperity.
“The good time will surely come, though it may be late but not impossible,” he declared and assured the nation to be content as all the leaders of the coalition government are working day and night to put the country back on the path of development.
He said that the coalition government was working for the welfare of the entire nation and hoped that it would achieve success in the coming days.
