Power outages severely impacting businesses, citizens alike: Shaikhani

HYDERABAD: Muhammad Farooq Shaikhani, the President of Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders & Small Industry, expressed grave concerns over the scorching heat gripping Pakistan, with temperatures soaring between 45 to 48 degrees Celsius. He highlighted a significant surge in both announced and unannounced power outages, severely impacting the lives of businesses and citizens alike.

The indiscriminate load shedding, often attributed to repair works by entities like HESCO, has rendered it nearly impossible for traders and residents to carry on with their daily activities. Enduring up to 16 hours of unannounced power cuts, coupled with prolonged interruptions for transformer repairs, has created immense hardships for the local community.

The Chamber President pointed out that HESCO’s severe load shedding persists even during crucial examination periods conducted by the Hyderabad Education Board, causing significant distress to aspiring students.

He noted that both scheduled and unscheduled power cuts, along with technical malfunctions and frequent tripping by HESCO, have also disrupted the functioning of the WASA system. Reports from WASA authorities confirm water scarcity complaints from numerous city areas.

Shaikhani underscored that a nation’s economic progress hinges significantly on a robust energy sector. Without its reinforcement, sustainable development remains elusive. He advocated for ensuring uninterrupted energy supply to industries by establishing dedicated express feeders and designating them as load-shedding exempt zones.

Despite substantial investments in Independent Power Producers (IPPs) contracts, the transmission and distribution of electricity face significant challenges. This disparity not only compels the government to seek external loans to fulfill its obligations to IPPs in foreign currency but also burdens traders and citizens with excessive taxes and frequent power outages reflected in their electricity bills.

Moreover, the persistence of power theft and line losses remains unchecked, with inadequate actions taken against perpetrators, further burdening law-abiding consumers.

Shaikhani appealed to Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, urging him to emulate the swift approval of 23 billion rupees aimed at lowering electricity costs for the people of Azad Kashmir by extending similar relief nationwide. He advocated for the immediate provision of subsidies to ensure affordable electricity rates for both traders and the general public across Pakistan.

He urged the Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Laghari, and the CEO HESCO to promptly address the urgent need for enhancing the electricity infrastructure in Hyderabad. The power outages by HESCO has not only disrupted the daily lives of ordinary citizens but has also severely hampered business operations.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024