The government would not modify the independent power producers (IPPs) contracts under any circumstances, as they “are as crucial as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor agreements,” Power Minister Awais Leghari has said.

“The repayment of interest on loans taken for capacity payment plants has been a burden due to the depreciation of the Pakistani rupee, which has impacted the power sector,” he said while appearing on the Naya Pakistan with Shahzad Iqbal aired on Geo News.

His statement comes amid the Jamaat-e-Islami sit-in against the exorbitant electricity bills and power agreements signed with the IPPs.

The religiopoltical party’s sit-in entered its third day on Sunday, with several protesters on Murre Road in Rawalpindi. The JI and the government held the first round of talks after which the latter assured the former of forming a technical committee on the 10 demands.

“The reduction in prices is more than the regional rate and we will not modify the IPP contracts under any circumstances,” Leghari said.

He went on to describe the contracts with IPPs for installing solar power as of “great importance,” with seven-year agreements for solar panels.

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Legahri added that the government has not had any discussions with any Chinese power producer or other plant owners. Instead, it would study the entire structure responsibly and negotiate in a way that benefits both parties.

He emphasised that a five-kilowatt solar system installed by an IPP and its associated contract holds the same significance for them as any CPEC or external contract.

The minister said that they are taking measures to reduce electricity prices and are moving towards coal-based power generation.