The government on Thursday decided to increase the power tariff of K-Electric in phases to avoid sudden burden on the consumers in for the sake of bringing the price at par with other parts of the country. Prime Minister Imran Khan chaired a meeting here to discuss the K-Electric tariff and gas prices. While considering the proposal for hike in the K-Electric power tariff, the meeting was told that the tariff was increased countrywide in January, on the NEPRA’s recommendation. However, the K-Electric tariff was not increased making the federal government pay subsidy of Rs 3-4 billion per month. Deliberating over the matter to ascertain the gas price, it was told that local gas production is insufficient to meet the needs compelling the government to import gas. The meeting was apprised that only 27 percent of the country’s population is being supplied piped gas at low cost while the rest was using LPG paying a far higher price. The prime minister instructed for a strategy to provide relief to a major chunk of the population and emphasized for a durable solution to the issue through consultation.