PM Shehbaz Directs Strategy to Stabilise Electricity Tariffs
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed relevant ministries and authorities to formulate a comprehensive strategy aimed at stabilising electricity tariffs across Pakistan. The directive, issued as household and industrial consumers continue to face elevated energy costs, signals a renewed executive push to address one of the country's most politically sensitive economic pressure points.
The instruction came as part of broader deliberations on energy sector reform, with the Prime Minister reportedly expressing concern over the impact of high electricity bills on industrial competitiveness and public welfare. Officials have been asked to present actionable proposals within a defined timeline.
Electricity pricing has remained a central fault line in Pakistan's energy policy, complicated by circular debt, inefficient distribution companies, and capacity payment obligations to independent power producers. Any strategy formulated under this directive will need to navigate these structural constraints while delivering measurable relief.
The move is expected to feed into ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund, which has consistently conditioned programme support on cost-reflective energy tariffs. Reconciling public relief with IMF conditionalities will define the ultimate credibility of whatever framework emerges.
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