ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) President Khawaja Mehboob has lauded Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of a reduction in electricity prices, terming it a “positive step” towards economic relief. However, he urged the government to eliminate the PTV fee and other unnecessary surcharges from electricity bills to further ease the burden on consumers and businesses.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Mehboob said the move would provide much-needed relief to the agriculture and industrial sectors. While the business community had hoped for a Rs 12 per unit reduction, he expressed optimism that further decreases in power tariffs could be expected in the coming months.
“The government’s target should be to bring electricity rates down to 9 cents per unit to remain competitive with regional countries,” he emphasized. Mehboob highlighted that the reduction would particularly benefit households consuming between 100 to 300 units, though he stressed that more substantial reforms were needed to ensure long-term affordability.
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The PBF chief also linked export growth to currency stability, suggesting that the rupee has room to appreciate by up to Rs 20 against the dollar. “Only a stronger rupee can genuinely reduce inflation and boost Pakistan’s export competitiveness,” he remarked.
Mehboob welcomed the Prime Minister’s plans to privatize power distribution companies (DISCOs), calling it a necessary step to improve efficiency and reduce losses in the energy sector.
