Major relief in electricity bills on the cards

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to provide big relief to the people by substantially bringing down the rates of electricity while maintaining prices of petroleum products at the previous level.

In a statement on Saturday, he said the government decided to transfer the complete financial benefit in the rate of electricity while keeping the prices of petroleum at the past rates.

The move is part of a broader government strategy to lower power costs and mitigate economic pressures on households and businesses. The government is finalising a comprehensive relief package designed to bring meaningful reductions in electricity tariffs. Officials are crafting a targeted strategy to translate energy cost savings into significant consumer benefits. “This initiative is one of several measures that will lead to a tangible decrease in power rates,” the prime minister noted, adding that the relief package will be formally announced in the coming weeks.

Pakistan’s energy sector has faced mounting challenges, including high generation costs, capacity charges, and inefficient transmission infrastructure. The proposed relief package is expected to be structured in a way that addresses these inefficiencies while ensuring sustainability in the power sector.

“The financial space created by oil price adjustments and other fiscal measures is being carefully utilised to craft a robust relief package,” the prime minister said, reaffirming the government’s focus on easing the cost burden on consumers.

A reduction in electricity tariffs is expected to have a cascading effect on inflation. Lower energy costs not only provide direct relief to households but also contribute to reducing production costs across various industries, ultimately leading to price stabilisation in essential goods and services.

Since assuming office, the prime minister has consistently emphasized public relief measures, prioritising economic stability and social welfare. The upcoming power tariff reduction is expected to be a critical milestone in this agenda.

In the coming weeks, the prime minister will personally brief the nation on the details of the relief package, highlighting how it aligns with the government’s broader economic policy objectives.

Meanwhile, addressing a ceremony at the site review of Daanish University of Emerging Sciences in the federal capital, the prime minister said that establishment of Daanish University would not only become a model in the country but would also carve a niche among the world’s top educational centers on basis of quality education, research and development in applied sciences.

He said it was a moment of joy for everyone as a piece of land of 100 acres was allocated for the establishment of Daanish University.

The prime minister said that no doubt, the country had good educational centres spread across different provinces, but as far as he remembered, there was no proper research and development educational centre dedicated to the modern applied sciences.

He expressed the hope that Daanish University could be equal to world-renowned educational institutions like Stanford, Oxford, MIT and others, adding that on Aug 14, 2026, the first section of the university would be operationalised.

He further said that the government would have no relation with its functions and administration as it would work autonomously like the PKLI where legislation was made in this regard. The PKLI was now functioning in the best way in the healthcare sector.

Students from all over the country would get enrollment in different faculties of the university purely on the basis of merit. A Trust would be created and initially, the government would provide Rs10 billion as seed money and later, it would run on the amount collected from fees of wealthy students while the poor students would be assisted.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, ministers, parliamentarians, experts and relevant authorities.

The prime minister said that names of the board of governors of Daanish University had been finalised so that the brilliant minds could contribute. The campus would be constructed with red facade which would have all the allied facilities, he added.

About the functioning of Daanish schools across Punjab province, he said a large number of orphans and poor students were getting education there. The centres equipped with free education, smart boards, IT labs, dormitories etc. were providing all facilities to the students from backward areas, he added.

He also appreciated teachers who left their well-paid jobs to teach students in far-flung areas at Daanish schools. The prime minister opined that the immense talent in those areas would have been wasted if the students were not properly educated. He emphasized they could realise the real objectives of a prosperous Pakistan by striving to provide quality education to all. He also expressed his gratitude to former chief justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and the incumbent CJP Yahya Afridi for transferring the amount of 190 million pounds to government’s exchequer which would be utilised for the establishment of Daanish University.

The prime minister stressed that nations were built on basis of hard work and not by seeking loans or funds and resolved to strive to make Pakistan a stronger and prosperous country and to realize the ideals of its founder Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Earlier, Minister for Federal Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, in his speech highlighted that the world had changed by achieving modern trends in science and technology. He promised to the nation that they would work hard to spread education and wisdom for the bright future of the country by undertaking similar initiatives. The minister said they were laying a foundation of an educational centre which would become a model to be emulated by the provinces.

Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal said that it was a historic day as it coincided with the education-friendly vision of the prime minister. He said the biggest Global South educational endowment fund was created by Shehbaz Sharif in the form of Daanish schools during his tenure as CM Punjab where students from the backward areas got quality education.

Daanish University would be the next level where they would prepare workforce for the industrial revolution, he said, adding the university would have the facilities to impart education in AI, bio-technology, robotics, space sciences and other emerging technologies through applied research to create a platform to fill in the gap between academia and industries.

Ahsan Iqbal said that they would also seek global partnership for the transfer of technology and to ensure that this institution should provide technology leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs. An amount of 190 million pounds, which belonged to the people of Pakistan and returned by UK NCA from money laundering case, stood transferred to the government, he added.

The minister regretted that a government had misused the amount and thanked the former CJP and current CJP for transferring the amount to the government.

The minister said that the amount would now be spent on the establishment of state-of-the-art university where undergraduate students from Daanish schools would get admissions.

Meanwhile, the prime minister lauded the officers and Jawans of security forces for successful intelligence-based operation against Fitna Al-Khawarij in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He appreciated the officers and Jawans for their professional capabilities in eliminating nine Khawarij in Mohmand and Dera Ismail Khan. He paid tribute to Havaldar Muhammad Zahid and Sepoy Aftab Ali Shah for embracing martyrdom for the country while fighting bravely and killing Khawarij. He prayed for the elevation of ranks of martyrs in Jannah and for the grant of patience to the bereaved families.

He said the war against the menace of terrorism would continue till its complete eradication from the country. The nation stood with the armed forces in the war against terrorism. He said the whole Pakistani nation was proud of its brave Jawans, who were giving their lives for the nation and their families. The federal government has increased petroleum levy on petrol and diesel by Rs10 per litre.

According to a notification issued by the Petroleum Division, effective March 16, the petroleum levy on petrol has been raised from Rs60 per litre to Rs70 per litre. Similarly, the levy on high-speed diesel has also been increased from Rs60 per litre to Rs70 per litre.