Govt plans
to hike gas
price up
to 200%
Khayam Abassi
ISLAMABAD: The caretaker finance minister has called the
meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Monday to
deliberate on the proposal for an increase in the gas tariff.
According to sources, the ECC meeting has been called at 4 pm tomorrow.
A summary of the increase in gas prices is likely to be presented in the
meeting.
The summary forwarded by the petroleum division has suggested about 200%
increase in the gas tariff.
It has been proposed to increase the price of gas up to 172% for
domestic consumers, for other categories, it has been suggested to hike
the price of gas up to 200%.
Sources said that a phenomenal increase in the fixed charges for the
lowest gas users has been proposed.
It has been proposed to raise the fixed monthly charges from Rs10 to
Rs400 for the protected customers.
Sources divulged that the increase in gas prices will be applicable from
October 1.
An increase in price by Rs100 per MMBtu has been suggested for
non-protected consumers who use up to 0-25 cubic meters.
An increase in price by Rs.300 per MMBtu has been suggested for
consumers who use gas up to 60 cubic meters per month. For these
consumers, the gas price will be hiked from Rs300 to Rs600 per MMBtu.
An increase in gas price by Rs600 per MMBtu has been suggested for
non-protected consumers who use gas up to 100 cubic meters per month.
For these users, the gas price will be risen from Rs400 to Rs1,000 per
MMBtu.
The consumers who use gas up to 150 cubic meters per month, their gas
tariff will be hiked from Rs600 to Rs1,200.
For those users who consume 200 cubic meters of gas per month, their
tariff will be increased to Rs1,600 from Rs800.
The consumers who use gas up to 300 cubic meters per month, their gas
tariff will be hiked from Rs1,100 to Rs3,000.
For those who consume 400 cubic meters of gas per month, their tariff
will be increased to Rs4,000 from Rs3,100.
Sources said that the petroleum division has suggested a Rs2,900 per
MMBtu increase in the gas price for the cement sector; Rs950 per MMBtu
hike for export industries; Rs1,400 per MMBtu hike for non-export
industries; and Rs4,400 per MMBtu increase for the CNG sector
