NEPRA approves 81-paisa power tariff hike

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Web Desk
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Higher electricity rates do not apply to K-Electric consumers. Photo: File

ISLAMABAD: The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) on Thursday approved a Rs0.81 per unit increase in the price of electricity. 

The hike in power tariff will put an additional financial burden of Rs5.2 billion on consumers. The higher electricity rates do not apply to K-Electric consumers. 

The power tariff hike comes days after the prices of petrol and high speed diesel were increased by Rs6 per litre. 

Inflation rose to 9.41 percent year-on-year, up from 8.21 percent in February, Bureau of Statistics data showed on Monday, lifted by sharp rises in food, fuel and transport costs that have squeezed household budgets.

On Friday, the central bank lifted its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 10.75 percent, citing continuing inflationary pressures as well as high fiscal and current account deficits.

Consumer price inflation has jumped sharply over the past year, climbing from under 4 percent at the start of 2018.

Energy costs in particular have risen sharply, hit by a series of a devaluations of the rupee.