No increase in tariff until load shedding ends: Tareen

ISLAMABAD: The government will not raise the power tariff or withdraw subsidies on electricity until load shedding is eliminated, Finance Adviser Shaukat Tareen said on Friday.

“The government will recover the cost of the subsidy once load shedding is eliminated,” Tareen said.

He said that Pakistan would convince the International Monetary Fund and World Bank authorities to extend the timeframe for the withdrawal of power subsidy, adding that he would hold negotiations with IMF officials in Istanbul and also visit Washington to talk to World Bank officials.

Oil prices: Defending the recent increase in petroleum prices, the finance adviser said the government had not passed the actual effect of the increase in international petroleum prices onto consumers.

Tareen said the country currently did not need new IMF loans, however, a formal request for an additional $4.1 billion line of credit had been placed with the Fund, which would be used only if the Friends of Pakistan forum delayed its assistance to the country. link.....