Possibly in a bid to prevent further solarisation – the government has announced an electricity subsidy to agriculture and industrial consumers.
The move could invite a new conflict of narrative between the Climate change initiative and the power sector of Pakistan.Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has announced the Roshan Maeeshat Electricity Package aimed at boosting Pakistan’s industrial and agricultural sectors through affordable energy supply.
“The industrial sector, currently paying Rs34 per unit, and the agricultural sector, paying Rs38 per unit, will now receive additional units at a significantly reduced rate,” the prime minister said.
Throughout the next three years, both sectors will be supplied additional power with a subsidy of Rs7.06 per unit.
The decision was made at a meeting with industrialists, agricultural experts, and business representatives, the prime minister said that under the package, additional electricity will be supplied to industries and farmers at concessional rates for the next three years — from November 2025 to October 2028.PM Shehbaz emphasised that the cost of this concession will not be passed on to domestic consumers or any other sector.Highlighting the economic rationale, the prime minister said: “Industrial and agricultural growth is essential for national prosperity and employment generation.
By making our industries and farmers competitive within the region, we are laying the foundation for long-term economic stability.”
He recalled that under the previous winter package, industries and farms consumed an additional 410 gigawatt hours of electricity, which helped keep the production wheel turning, boosted exports, and created jobs.
“The journey from economic crisis to stability has been challenging,” he said, “but through the dedication of our economic team and your cooperation, we have made significant progress.”He added that the sound policies have improved economic indicators.
Later, Awais Leghari, minister for power, in a statement said that there was more than 7,000 megawatts of surplus electricity in the entire electricity system in Pakistan.
“We were sitting for decades and were not giving electricity to anyone or it was at full price or not at all.” We estimated the expenses and the price of electricity for industry and agriculture has been reduced Rs22.98 per unit.
However the subsidised tariff would apply at electricity consumed over the average power consumption in the year 2024.
The minister added, “We have already reduced the industry rate by Rs16 per unit in the last 18 months.”
The power producers in country have been facing declining consumption from the grid as agriculture sector was rapidly shifting towards solar power.
