‘Continuous increase in power price creating frustration’

KARACHI: Chairman of National Business Group Pakistan, President Pakistan Businessmen and Intellectuals Forum, Mian Zahid Hussain said that the policy of continuous increases in the price of electricity is creating distance between the government and the people.

Instead of giving relief to the people who are worried about inflation, the government continues to overburden them, which is seriously undermining their confidence, he said.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that after Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, protests against the policies of the government may start in other parts of the country.

He said that public had not entered into contracts with the IPPs and they were not responsible for the incompetence and corruption in the power sector.

He said that it is not the job of the masses to collect electricity bills, which the government cannot recover and continuously put its burden on the masses.

Instead of reducing losses, bill-paying consumers are made to pay for authorities’ incompetence, which is increasing public frustration.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that inflation has broken the backs of the people, and those who were considered middle-class until a few years ago have now become miserable. Those who have not had to sell their jewellery and assets consider themselves fortunate.

He stated that the middle-class and the poor have grown weary of taking loans, and now they no longer have this option. We should support our political leadership in their efforts to address the worst economic crisis in the country’s history.

The government should take strict action against various mafias, which will boost the morale of the people, and they will support the government with new enthusiasm.

Mian Zahid Hussain said that Nepra has also become a tool for power sector profiteers who are not concerned about people’s interests.

He asked, “What is the point of spending millions of rupees on an organization that can’t even do its job?” Every other day, some big scandals come to light, which shows that mafias are trying to subvert the government.

Mian Zahid Hussain added that the people are waiting for the government’s announcements and promises to be implemented.

The government has accepted the demands of the protestors in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, which is proof of its good intentions.

The power sector can provide facilities to the public by eliminating power theft, bill collection, reducing line losses, and privatization, he said.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024