Pakistan, June 30 -- The government's decision to raise fixed gas charges for domestic consumers by 50%, effective from July 1, is being justified as a fiscal necessity under the IMF programme. But this increase does more than meet a target: it exposes the enduring rot within Pakistan's energy sector. Rather than tackling the root causes of inefficiency, the state has once again chosen the path of least resistance: passing the burden onto the public.

While per-unit gas tariffs remain unchanged, fixed monthly charges will now rise to Rs600 for "protected" consumers and up to Rs3,000 for those in higher usage brackets. These increases are not based on consumption or ability to pay; they are flat fees disregarding income disparity. In effec...