The federal government on Thursday decided to immediately pay back Rs 50 billion in circular debt. “The decision has been taken after independent power producers (IPP) threatened that they will suspend power generation,” sources in the finance ministry said. The phase-wise payment will be initiated from Monday after the Ashura holidays and the weekend, sources added. On Monday, Rs 34 billion will be paid to the Ministry of Power and the remaining Rs16 billion will be given at the end of next month, they added. The Rs 50 billion have been taken as loan from eight banks, sources further said. Published in Daily Times, September 21st 2018.