Fixed Tariff For Agri Tube-wells Electricity Connections To Provide Maximum Relief To Farmers: Omer Ayub

Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan Thursday said fixed tariff for agri tube-wells electricity connections approved by the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet would be implemented to provide maximum relief to the farmers.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Dec, 2018 ) :Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub Khan Thursday said fixed tariff for agri tube-wells electricity connections approved by the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet would be implemented to provide maximum relief to the farmers.

Addressing a press conference along with Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Khokkar here, he said Rs3.50 per unit concession for agri tube-wells connections was made part of the fixed tariff. The farmers would get a relief worth Rs3.60 billion under the fixed tariff, he added.

Omar Ayub said despite financial constraints, the government on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken this step to facilitate the farmers.

He said earlier, the farmers had to pay fixed charges from Rs8,000 to Rs10,000 on 40 to 50 horse power motor turbines.

Speaking on the occasion, Kissan Ittehad President Khalid Khokkar appreciated the prime minister, Minister for Power Division Omar Ayub and Minister for Finance Asad Umer to provide concessional fixed power tariff to the farmers.

He said agriculture was considered backbone of the country's economy and the government step would help reduce cost of production.

He said the Prime Minister had also promised that agri emergency would be imposed to boost the agri sector in the country.

Responding to a question, he said power tariff for the domestic consumers utilizing upto 300 units and 95 per cent commercial consumers had been kept unchanged and no increase was made for them.

Similarly, he said subsidy was also being provided to the export and industrial industries.

To another question, Omar Ayub said unfortunately proper attention was not given to the power distribution system in the past adding that the system could not transmit over 19,500 MW electricity. Some 72 bottle necks were identified in the transmission system, he added.

To a query, the minister said work was also being carried out on short and long terms studies about real data of demand and supply.

He said National Transmission and Despatch Company had been working on a projection plan for next 35 years energy requirement.

He said renewable energy policy would be ready by March 2019 and its share would be taken to 20 per cent of the country's total energy mix need.