75 percent textile units cease production: power, water crises worsen

While about 75 percent textile processing units have ceased production, other industries are running at a slow pace due to frequent power breakdowns and acute water shortage in industrial areas.
Disturbed over the performance of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC), industrialists said that voltage was one of the biggest problems in operating units on full strength. They pointed out that a number of units, which were running normally, were using their own power generating capability to honour their commitments to foreign buyers.
Industrialists from North Karachi industrial areas complained that KESC and other higher-ups in the government were repeatedly pursued to solve their problems, but no body came forward to solve their problems.
Talking to Business Recorder, pattern -in chief of North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI) Captain A Moiz Khan said that there was no electricity in North Karachi industrial area for the last eight days. Around 2,500 units were lying idle, he said, adding only those industries were operating which have their power captive power generating capability.
He feared that if the situation continued and no remedial measures were taken, Chinese textile importers might cancel their import orders worth rupees four to five billion. Korangi Association of Traded Industry (Kati) Chairman Masood Naqi said that around 75 percent textile processing units had gone out of production due to low voltage, irregular power supply and water shortage caused by power failure.
He said that other industries, operating in the industrial area, are working below capacity due to voltage problem and frequent power failures.
Site Association of Industry (Sai) Chairman Imran Shaukat said that with the onset of heavy rains, out of 56 KESC feeders, 22 got out of order. However, the KESC has managed to reactivate 13 feeders, while nine were still out of order. He said that due to unannounced frequent power breakdowns and thin attendance, industrial production was reduced to around 48 percent.