Govt Aims to Cut Electricity Prices by up to Rs. 12 Per Unit in Next 18 Months: Power Minister  

Federal Minister for Power Awais Leghari Wednesday said the government would make all-out efforts to achieve the target of Rs. 10 to 12 per unit reduction in electricity cost in the next 18 months.   He expressed these views while talking to newsmen after attending the Power Reforms Roundtable organized at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA).   He highlighted the re-profiling of CPEC loans, review of IPP contracts, settlement of transmission constraints, improving the efficiency of distribution companies, and broadening the tax net as key reforms to reduce the price of electricity.   Leghari said that the forensic audit of the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) would be carried out if it is required and expressed hope that it would not be needed.   Earlier, in his keynote address, the minister said seven out of ten power distribution bodies would be privatized very soon. He told another questioner that the higher income group are the beneficiaries of solar net metering.   The minister said that we are the cleanest energy producers in the region and all Pakistanis should be proud of it.   Later, the Federal Minister was presented with a shield by the Executive Director of IBA Karachi Dr S. Akbar Zaidi.