PM announces Rs4.04 per unit cut in power tariff
Premier says wheeling charges will be less than Rs9; announces blue passports for leading exporters
ISLAMABAD
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday rolled out relief measures for the industries, announcing a Rs4.04 per unit reduction in electricity tariffs, and added that the wheeling charges would be less than Rs9 in a bid to boost exports and support the business fraternity.
He made these remarks while addressing a ceremony held in honour of the country’s eminent businessmen and exporters in Islamabad. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, leading businessmen, entrepreneurs and exporters also attended the ceremony.
At the ceremony, awards were distributed among exporters who made a significant contribution to the national economy, and the prime minister personally presented awards to prominent exporters and business figures from across the country, whom he also formally welcomed. The prime minister, while addressing the ceremony, said all future economic policies would be framed in close consultation with the business community and that there was no alternative to export-driven economic growth. He also announced that traders who had received awards would be granted blue passports.
He further said the government was also reducing the export refinance scheme rate from current 7.5% to 4.5% to provide immediate relief to businesses and accelerate export-led growth.
PM Shehbaz said the government did not believe in running businesses itself and that the private sector must lead economic activity, while the state’s role was to provide a conducive and predictable business environment. The prime minister said Pakistan must now move decisively towards growth and welcomed proposals from the business community.
“You exporters deserve the highest praise. Great business leaders have worked day and night to bring pride to the country,” the prime minister said, adding that exporters had delivered a strong performance despite difficult conditions and had posted a notable increase in Pakistan’s exports in 2025.
He said some people had claimed that Pakistan had technically defaulted and that talk of the country’s bankruptcy had continued in the past, but saving Pakistan from default had been one of the government’s biggest challenges.
