Remedy for power loadshedding: KCCI suggests new formula

N H Zuberi

KARACHI: Leaders of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) have suggested a new formula to overcome power load shedding in industrial areas of the city.

They suggested cut in gas supply to Karachi Elect Supply Company (KESC) and provide the same to industries to produce their own electricity to meet their requirement and keep their units operative to fulfil export and local orders commitments.

In letters, Leader of Businessmen Group, Siraj Kassam Teli and President of KCCI Abrar Ahmad have sought intervention of the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister in the issue of load shedding by KESC to save Pakistan, save industries of Karachi, who provide highest employment as well as highest revenue, otherwise Pakistan's economy will suffer irreparable loss.

They suggested that the President and Prime Minister should instruct the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources to provide gas connections for industries to produce their own electricity and gas quantity thus be adjusted from the quantum of gas supplied to KESC, making industries less dependent on KESC, and the utility will be able to easily provide electricity for rest of the city.

In the letters they have expressed deep concern over the energy problems and load shedding in the industries which is causing unprecedented production loss of billions of rupees everyday and the resilient industrialists of Karachi already have to face high cost of doing business due to critical law and order, exorbitant interest rates with heavy banking spread and high cost of inputs being a mega city. Therefore, the business & industrial community cannot be held hostage to KESC anymore.

Teli and Abrar have articulated that the KESC, which is responsible to provide uninterrupted and quality electricity to the industries, is working on a plan to destroy the industries of Karachi, KESC is blackmailing the government for its ulterior motives, using the industrialists to pressurise the government by load shedding every now and then.  The KESC while penalising the industries in order to create public outrage is constantly working on disgraceful plans to blackmail the Government of Pakistan to get its tariffs increased, subsidised fuel (gas/oil). KESC had already earned more than its investment.

They conveyed their contention that the Government must carry out a Forensic Audit of KESC as the Business & Industrial Community fear any coming day the company will close down and the management will flee.

Pakistan's economy will suffer if Karachi 's industries are disturbed. Karachi's industries are providing employment to around 1.5 million labour force, indirect human resource as vending workers encompassing to another 1.5 million who are associated with the industries and providing allied services.

Ultimately the industries of Karachi are providing bread and butter to more than 8 million families/citizens. They stated that "we cannot afford the industry to suffer any kind of load shedding which causes heavy losses to business and industrial cmmunity and Government exchequer which ultimately will create labour unrest and law and order situation".