SAFA Releases Cost-Based Tariff Guidelines
South Asian Federation of Accountants' public sector committee issues framework for measuring costs and setting tariffs.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Economic Policy
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The SAFA Public Sector Advisory Committee released Guidelines on Cost Measurement, Cost Disclosures and Cost-Based Tariff Determination for Public Sector Commercial Entities. Zia ul Mustafa Awan presented the Guidelines to SAFA President Mohammed Humayun Kabir at the 94th SAFA Board meeting in Colombo.
Why it matters
The Guidelines provide a common framework for measuring costs of goods and services and strengthen cost disclosures that support cost-based tariff decisions. They are intended to help governments, regulators and professional bodies make informed decisions and protect consumer interests.
The Guidelines were presented at the 94th SAFA Board meeting, which serves as the formal reference point for the release. No specific cost figures, tariff rates or adoption timelines were disclosed, and the source does not indicate which governments have committed to applying the framework.
The players
South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA)
A regional federation of accountancy bodies in South Asia that promotes professional standards and cooperation among member countries.
Mohammed Humayun Kabir
President of SAFA, who received the Guidelines during the Board meeting in Colombo.
Zia ul Mustafa Awan
Chairman of the SAFA Public Sector Advisory Committee and a member of ICMA Pakistan, who presented the Guidelines.
The details
The Guidelines cover operational efficiency, capital recovery, subsidies and public-service obligations in cost measurement. The SAFA President and Vice President, Prabin Kumar Jha, praised the Committee's work on cost transparency and public sector accountability.
Timeline
The Guidelines were presented during the 94th SAFA Board meeting in Colombo.
Market Dynamics
The Guidelines extend the work of the SAFA Public Sector Advisory Committee into cost-based tariff determination for public sector commercial entities. They build on the committee's broader role in promoting transparent cost measurement across South Asian public bodies.
Households that rely on public utilities or state-run services could see tariffs adjusted under the framework if governments adopt it. The Guidelines are designed to make those tariff decisions more transparent and consumer-focused.
The takeaway
Cost-based tariffs are more defensible when the underlying costs are measured and disclosed openly. Readers interested in public utility pricing can watch whether national regulators adopt the SAFA framework.
Further reading
Explore more coverage of Economic Policy and how governments set public sector prices.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Times.
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