Overview
- Power Minister Awais Leghari reaffirmed on Sunday that the government will not withdraw subsidies for protected consumers and that verified beneficiaries will continue to receive support through a new QR code registration system.
- More than two million single-phase households have already registered under the QR code process as the ministry seeks to ensure subsidies reach eligible users who consume up to 200 units a month.
- Officials point to large savings from power-sector reforms — Rs3.5 trillion from renegotiated IPP deals, Rs193 billion from lower DISCO losses and a Rs780 billion drop in circular debt — and report average tariffs have fallen about 20% since March 2024.
- The government says net metering remains intact in principle while shifting to a net-billing framework that it expects will not affect roughly 90% of domestic solar users and will scrap licensing for solar projects of 25 kW or below.
- Critics and editorials warn that IMF-linked commitments and plans to cross-check registrations with the Benazir Income Support Programme database could effectively narrow who keeps subsidies and raise bills for some households, and talks with CPEC-linked Chinese IPPs remain unresolved.