Caretaker Energy Minister Muhammad Ali has announced that the interim government will most likely take a decision on provision of relief in the electricity bills by Monday, saying detailed consideration has been given to ease the burden on the public.
The development came at a joint news conference after the first session of two-day meeting of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). The energy minister, Caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar, Commerce Minister Dr Gohar Ejaz and Information Minister Murtaza Solangi addressed the media persons.
The energy minister said, “We are taking steps to find oil and gas as we are losing Rs300 billion annually in the gas sector. The availability of gas is essential to run the industry.”
Ali said discussions for privatisation of power distribution companies was under way.
“Work is also being done to reduce line losses and bring investment under the SIFC.”Addressing the presser, Shamshad said the caretaker government had adopted a holistic approach to address the pressing issues being faced by the economy and develop a roadmap with an aim to augment the macroeconomic management.
“We will operate really holistically and consistently as a team. This will be an important change that incharges of all segments will work together,” she said.
A principle had been adopted to look at the government as a whole, she added.
Shamshad said subcommittees of the cabinet, including the Economic Coordination Committee, Executive Committee of National Economic Council, Cabinet Committee on Privatisation, and Cabinet Committee on Energy, had already been institutionalised.
