In Islamabad, there are reports that the caretaker government is set toannounce a gas price increase in response to the IMF’s request, as persources reported by ARY News on Monday. The previous government, led by thePDM, had postponed the decision to raise gas prices.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has insisted on a 45 percentincrease in gas prices in the country. According to sources, the IMF hascalled for generating 435 billion rupees in revenue through this gas rateincrease and has shown little flexibility in its demand.
Sources have indicated that the government has devised a strategy toshield small gas consumers from the price hike, aiming to spare 64 percentof gas consumers from the increase. The government is expected toofficially announce a 45 percent hike in gas rates in the near future.
Sources suggest that gas consumers will need to settle their arrears fromJuly to September bills, and the higher tariff will also apply to domesticconsumers with increased gas consumption. Commercial consumers, includingbakeries and hotels, are likely to experience an increase in gas rates.Industrial consumers, CNG stations, fertilizer factories, and the steelindustry may also face higher gas costs.
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The IMF’s demand includes raising the gas tariff by 45 to 50 percent under’Fuel Adjustment Charges’, while emphasizing the need for a crackdown onelectricity and gas theft to enhance revenue recovery.
