In partnership with
Profit
NEPRA JACKS UP POWER TARIFF BY RS2.83/UNIT UNDER FCA OF MARCH Thursday, 9 May, 2024 I |30 Shawwal, 1445
T
g
Rs 20.00 | Vol XIV No 309 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition
THIS HIKE WILL BE CHARGED FROM POWER CONSUMERS OF ALL DISCOS IN BILLS OF MAY PROFIT
AHMAD AHMADANI
HE National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has increased the power tariff by Rs 2.83 per unit on account of Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) for electricity consumed in March 2024. According to a NEPRA notification, this hike in electricity rate shall be applicable to all the consumer categories except Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS), K-Electric and lifeline consumers. The hike will be shown separately in bills on the basis of units billed to the consumers in March 2024. This hike in power tariff will be charged from the power consumers of power distribution companies (DISCOs) in the month of May, 2024 while this increase will not be applicable to the consumers of K-Electric, said NEPRA notification. While effecting the Fuel Adjustment Charges, the concerned DISCOs shall keep in view and strictly comply with the orders of the courts notwithstanding this order, said NEPRA’s notification.
Earlier, Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) submitted an application to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on the request of distribution companies (DISCOs) to increase the electricity price by Rs 2.9402 per kilowatt hour (kWh) under the head Fuel Charges Adjustment (FCA) of March 2024. The CPPA, in its application, has claimed that the total electricity generated with various fuels in March 2024 was recorded a 8,023 GWh, at Rs 8.3109 per unit. The total cost of energy was Rs 66,680 million. The power generation with the hydel source was 2,217 GWh (gigawatt per hour) constituting 27.63 percent with zero cost of power generation while power production with coal-fired power plants was 862 GWh (local coal) and the total power generated for Rs 14,459 million (Rs 16.7779/unit). Similarly, the power generation from gas-based power plants was 795 GWh, 9.91 percent of the total generation, totaling Rs13.6857 per unit and the generation from Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) was 1,658 GWh, which was 20.67 percent of
total generation, at Rs 22.1917 per unit. Likewise, power production from bagasse was recorded at 78 GWh, the price of which has been calculated at Rs 5.9822 per unit. The electricity generated from wind was recorded at 205 GWh, 2.55 per cent of total generation and solar at 110 GWh, 1.37 per cent of the total generation in March 2024. Moreover, electricity generation from nuclear sources was 2,070 GWh which came out at Rs 1.5488 per unit, 25.79 per cent of the total generation, and electricity imported from Iran was 28 GWh amounted to Rs 30.3729 per unit, 0.35 per cent of the total power generation in the said month of March 2024. It is also learnt from the data submitted by the CCPA with NEPRA that net electricity delivered to DISCOs in March 2024 was 7,756 GWh (96.67pc) at a rate of Rs 9.3819 per unit, the total price of which was Rs 72,764 million. It is relevant to note that in the February adjustment, NEPRA had increased the price of electricity by Rs 4.92 per unit, while in the January fuel charges adjustment, the price of electricity was increased by Rs. 7.6 per unit.
May 9 biggest conspiracy against Pakistan’s integrity, development: Tarar ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday said the May 9 tragic incidents were the biggest conspiracy orchestrated to disrupt the country’s development, and harm its defence and integrity. Addressing a press conference, he strongly condemned the attacks on military installations and defiling of martyrs’ memorials on May 9 last year – the darkest day in the history of Pakistan. Such a tragedy had never ever been witnessed that was aimed to weaken the
country, he added. Atta Tarar said the authorities concerned had irrefutable evidence against the perpetrators of May 9 incidents, and their faces would be exposed before the public. “The May 9 events were systematically planned to undermine the country’s defence,” he added. The vandalism and arson at the defence installations and dishonouring of the martyrs’ memorials were the heinous crimes that the enemies of Pakistan had never dared to even think of, the minister said. Atta Tarar said there should be a public debate on what punishment had been given to the perpetrators so far, call-
ing for a strict action against them to set an example for future deterrence. The Information Minister said no political party in the country had ever compromised the national integrity as it was done by a group of miscreants who attacked the country on May 9 and created unrest for their political and personal gains. The May 9 incidents were in fact aimed at weakening Pakistan internally and externally, he added. “The events of May 9 were systematically planned to undermine the country’s defence,” he added. The minister said in the recent past, the Pakistan Air Force pilots had brought
down two Indian aircraft for their intrusion into Pakistani air space. Likewise, those who had attacked the defence installations on May 9 must also be taken to task, he stressed. He regretted that unfortunately the miscreants even did not spare the memorial of Captain Colonel Sher Khan Shaheed – a thorough professional soldier who was even admired by an Indian brigadier for his bravery, and set it on fire. “The Indian brigadier despite being an enemy praised Colonel Sher Khan Shaheed for his bravery, valour and courage, which, he said, must be recognized by his country.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
On May 9, govt convenes cabinet meeting, ceremony to pay tribute to martyrs ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The federal government has decided to pay tribute to the martyrs on the ‘first anniversary’ of May 9 at a ceremony to be held at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened a special cabinet meeting on Thursday (tomorrow) to declare the day as a ‘Black Day’. As per officials, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir is likely to attend the ceremony to be held at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad to pay tribute to martyrs. The Prime Minister will preside over the special ceremony to commemorate the event of May 9 when mobs vandalized memorials of the martyrs of armed forces. The federal cabinet and parliament members will also participate in the ceremony, along with the families of the martyrs. On the other hand, a special session of the federal cabinet will also be held on Thursday (tomorrow). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has convened the special cabinet meeting to declare May 9 as a ‘Black Day’ over vandalism of the military installations, martyrs monuments and public property on this day last year. The special meeting of the federal cabinet to be presided by PM Shehbaz Sharif will be held in the Parliament House on Thursday. In the meeting, the sources said the Prime Minister would give a special message to the nation on the May 9 incidents from the forum of the federal cabinet. The sources said the May 9 incidents will be condemned and solidarity with the martyrs will be expressed in the cabinet meeting. The sources added that May 9 will be declared a black day while the supremacy of the Parliament and the promotion of democratic attitudes will be emphasised in the meeting. On Tuesday, IG ISPR Major General Ahmed Sharif gave a detailed press briefing wherein he stated that the May 9 incident was not the military and is a matter of the entire country. He emphasized that the culprits and their facilitators should be punished according to the law and the constitution, and investigations should be conducted under the judicial commission.