The Minister for Power had first assured us with great confidence that there would be no loadshedding after December 9, even though, it has since been increased to six to eight hours a day. Now he informs us that loadshedding would continue until June 2010. So was the minister deliberately misinforming the citizens or was he simply let down by his advisors having no clue about what to do about the shortfall? There is, of course, the inevitable question; how can we accept his word this time? Retraction of this public pledge is especially galling considering that instead of an apology, the government is now offering the citizens a further increase of 13.6% in the electricity charges since January 1, 2010, on the eve of the New Year. This further escalation of tariff is the last straw on the back of already ailing sectors of industry, retail and the ordinary consumers. This time, even the low income consumers have not been spared and will have to bear uniform power rate increase by NEPRA which, according to some reports, wishes to increase tariff by another 40% over the year. Reason? The furnace oil prices are increasing and the full burden of increase has to be passed on to the consumers as per the agreements with the IMF. Attempts have been made by some consumer groups to stop this increase in electricity tariff by participating in the NEPRA hearing last October. Some others have filed a petition in the Sindh High Court against this unfair and unlawful increase in tariffs. Despite assurances and promises, NEPRA has failed to take any effective action to protect interests of the consumers. The hearings in the SHC are yet to take place. -HAMID MAKER, Helpline Trust Karachi, January 4.