Power tariff hike: Pakistani daily slams government's sly move

Islamabad, May 17 (IANS) The steep hike in power tariff has come as a shock to Pakistanis who are already reeling under the pressure of inflation, said a daily here, criticising the government's "deliberately sly move" of bypassing the law ministry while making the latest announcement.

An editorial in the News International said the power tariff is set to rise again - "just as summer draws in with all its wrath and the demand for power grows across the country".

It will be a raise of 16 percent with the per unit price to increase from 0.71 to 2.12 rupees depending on the amount of electricity consumed.

"The increase will bring in an additional Rs.88 billion per year to a starved exchequer," the daily said.

The editorial pointed out that across the country people are cutting into their income and their spending.

"Many are now cutting back on the necessities of life with no luxuries left anyway."

It stated that the latest tariff increase "comes as another shock to households already reeling under the pressure of inflation that has grown out of all bounds".

Highlighting another factor that is even more worrying, it said: "In a deliberately sly move the government has by-passed the law ministry while making the latest announcement. The ministry is reported to have earlier advised it that the matter was pending before the court and no decision should therefore be taken."

"How long will this indifference to the people, this disregard to the courts, continue?," it asked.