KHI 21-03-2012_Layout 1 3/21/2012 2:21 AM Page 1
Rs15.00 Vol ii no 263 22 pages Karachi edition
pakistantoday.com.pk
Wednesday, 21 March, 2012 Rabi-ul-Sani 27, 1433
Power: Not for the Poor! g
NEPRA jacks up power tariff by Rs 6.39 per unit g Move likely to tighten noose around inflation-stricken people ISLAMABAD ameR Sial
Back to the dark ages – the days of affordable electricity are seemingly over for the common man, as the government on Tuesday tightened the noose around the already economically-crushed people of the country by seeking an unprecedented massive hike in power tariff at the rate of Rs 6.39 per unit under the fuel adjustment charge. The move is sure to draw a massive uproar from the overburdened masses – who were only recently subjected to a massive hike in fuel prices earlier this month – as evident from countrywide violent protests against the price hike. The country’s inflation figure is already above 11 percent and coupled with soaring commodity prices, it seems the people have been left with little room other than taking to the streets in protest against the government’s anti-people decisions. The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) at a public hearing on petitions filed by the Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA) agreed to increase the power tariff by Rs 6.39 for four months under the monthly fuel price adjustment mechanism. CPPA had sought an increase of Rs 6.46 per unit. According to NEPRA, the fresh hike was made due to an increase in furnace oil prices, gas shortage and decrease in hydropower generation during the low hydel power
generation winter season. The share of thermal generation was 34.2 percent in October, 31.1 percent in November, 34.1 percent in December 2011 and 31.3 percent in January 2012. Lifeline consumers using up to 50 units per month and consumers of Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) will be exempted from the hike in power tariff. NEPRA Vice Chairman Ghiasuddin Ahmad said the approved hike in power tariff would be recovered from the consumers in monthly bills. However, NEPRA Member from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Shoukat Ali Kundi opposed the proposed hike, saying there was no justification in passing on the cost of inefficiency, line losses and theft in the power sector to the consumers. Representatives of CPPA claimed that these costs were not included in the power tariff, but when they were asked to elaborate where did it pile up, they said in the circular debt. Kundi said people were the victims of the burden of circular debt. He mentioned that the government did not bother to improve efficiency of the public sector generation plants which operated on 24 percent efficiency as compared to their operational efficiency of 36 percent during the four months period. He noted with concern that no government department was accountable for the inefficiency, line losses and theft. Continued on page 04
Frustrated masses pour onto Punjab streets
PCNS recommends seeking unconditional US apology
Violent protests break out across province g WAPDA bus attacked in Lahore, 2 injured g Public property destroyed in clashes with police
The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) has presented its recommendations on revising the terms of engagement with the United States in the war on terror, and suggested the government to seek an unconditional apology from the US on air strikes at Salala check posts, pursue the gas pipeline project with Iran against US pressure, call for an end to drone strikes on Pakistani territory, and broker a civilian nuclear agreement with the US or any other country. The committee also made it binding upon the government that there could be no compromise on the country’s sovereignty and nuclear programme, while setting unambiguous conditions for reopening NATO supply routes through Pakistan. PCNS Chairman Senator Raza Rabbani presented the committee’s recommendations before the parliament on Tuesday for implementation by the government. While presenting the recommendations, Rabbani said it was a historic step towards bringing the country’s foreign policy under the parliament. The PCNS has further recommended that the government shall not enter into any verbal agreement regarding national security with a foreign government or authority. “The strategic partnership with China must be deepened in all its dimensions,” the committee advised.“There should be prior permission and transparency on the number and presence of foreign intelligence opera-
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GUJRANWALA/FAISALABAD/JHELUM/LAHORE Staff RepoRt/agencieS
Mobs of angry protesters poured out in several cities across Punjab on Tuesday, demanding an end to over 18-hour-long blackouts and warning of worse consequences than the burning of electricity company offices last year in similar demonstrations. Hundreds of factory workers, irrespective of their unions, took out a rally at Gujranwala’s Khiali Chowk and blocked the GT Road for about an hour. Wielding sticks and stones, the protesters said the 18 hours of loadshedding had triggered massive lay offs at factories due to scant production. They said that astronomical inflation had further threatened the survival of their families and children, as they were not being able to earn enough. Saleem, a factory worker, warned of the explosive consequences of the crisis, saying the authorities had not learnt a lesson from the burning of
Gujranwala Electric Power Company’s (GEPCO) office last year. He said political parties were fighting for power while their children were crying for bread. “The workers are already pushed against the wall, and if the authorities are that indifferent to our miseries, then we would be left with no option other than to revolt and demolish everything. The new episode would be much more devastating than the burning of GEPCO office and Ladaywala Police Station last year,” he said. Adam Pal, a representative of the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign, announced all out support for workers protesting for their rights. He said the current “pseudo democracy” had failed to ensure the provision of basic facilities to the masses. Elsewhere in Faisalabad, demonstrations turned violent when protesters clashed with police. Over a hundred men carrying sticks and stones gathered at Samundari Road and chanted slogans against the government and electricity officials for
their failure to curb power outages. Loss to public property in encounters between the police and angry mobs was also reported. Law enforcers claimed arresting over two dozen people. In Jhelum, protesters attacked a WAPDA office and damaged it badly. They said electricity and gas outages were following each other, adding that the government should quit as it had failed to resolve the people’s problems. In Lahore, several demonstrations took place in different parts of the city. A mob attacked a WAPDA bus near Hall Road and injured two officials boarding the bus. Electricity shortfall in the country has crossed 6,000 megawatts, as Pakistan’s two main reservoirs – Tarbela and Mangla – have dropped to dead level. The urban areas are facing 12 hours of electricity loadshedding, while the rural areas are getting four to six hours of electricity.
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ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt
tives in Pakistan,” it suggested. The PCNS has also asked the government that the dialogue process with India should be continued in a purposeful and result-oriented manner on the basis of mutual respect and mutual interest, including efforts to resolve the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN resolution. US ASKED TO REVIEW ITS FOOTPRINTS: “The US must review its footprints in Pakistan. This means (i) the cessation of drone attacks inside the territorial borders of Pakistan (ii) No hot pursuit or boots on Pakistani territory, and (iii) the activity of foreign private security contractors must be transparent and subject to Pakistani law. It needs to be realised that drone attacks are counter productive, cause loss of valuable lives and property, radicalise the local population, create support for terrorists and fuel anti-American sentiments,” the PCNS said in its report. US-INDO CIVIL NUCLEAR DEAL: In its guidelines, PCNS has said that there would be no compromise on Pakistan’s nuclear programme and assets, including their safety and security. “The US-Indo civil nuclear agreement has significantly altered the strategic balance in the region therefore Pakistan should seek from the US and others a similar treatment/facility. The strategic position of Pakistan vis-àvis India on the subject of FMCT must not be compromised and this principle be kept in view in negotiations on this matter,” it said. Continued on page 04