ISLAMABAD: In a move to provide relief to households, the government has decided to keep gas tariffs for domestic consumers unchanged, while introducing slight increases in fixed monthly charges.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) held on Friday, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The meeting addressed several pressing issues related to the economy, energy pricing, and food security.
According to an official statement, per-unit gas rates for domestic consumers will remain the same. However, fixed monthly charges have been revised. For protected residential consumers, the fixed charge has been increased from Rs400 to Rs450. Non-protected consumers will now pay Rs1,400 per month, up from Rs1,000. Consumers exceeding 1.5 cubic meters of gas usage will be charged Rs2,400 monthly, compared to the previous Rs2,000.
In addition to domestic rates, the ECC also approved a 10 percent average hike in gas tariffs for power plants and industrial users. The adjustment aims to balance rising energy costs while protecting low-income households from further financial strain.
The ECC also took decisions on food security, approving the import of sugar to stabilize market supply. A 10-member steering committee has been formed to supervise the import process. The committee will be led by the Federal Minister for National Food Security and will include key figures such as the Minister for Commerce, the Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs, Secretary Finance, and FBR Chairman.
The steering committee will submit its recommendations to the ECC for final approval, ensuring coordinated action on both energy and food policy fronts.
