The National Electronic Power Regulatory Authority has approved an additional surcharge of Rs3.39 per unit for four months.

The additional ammount takes the total surcharge on each unit of electricity to Rs3.82 and will be charged from March to June. The old surcharge was a mere 43 paisas.

The new prices will be applicable to consumers across the country including K-Electric. The months in which the surcharge will apply traditionally have some of the highest electricity demands in the entire year.

The surcharge will come into effect after NEPRA’s approval as it has already been approved by the Economic Coordination Committee.

The government aims to raise Rs75 billion through the hike, part of an overall goal of raising Rs335 billion throuch power tariffs.

Pakistan has been taking a slew of economic measures to comply with IMF conditions in order to secure the next bailout tranche that was due last year. While Finance Minsiter Ishaq Dar has said Pakistan is safe from default, rising inflation has continued to make life difficult for citizens.

The general sales tax, which affects everything form food to vehicles has already been raised as well as the interest rate which is at an almost 30-year high.