HCSTSI seeks ‘adequate’ power allocation thru national grid

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI) President, Muhammad Saleem Memon has stated that the significant reduction in power supplied to HESCO region from the National Grid, repeated technical faults in NTDC’s transmission system and the resulting forced load-shedding have severely affected the industrial, commercial and business activities of the entire Hyderabad Division.

He urged the Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division), Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, to take immediate notice of this serious situation and ensure adequate power allocation from the National Grid to the HESCO region, along with urgent measures to improve the transmission system

Saleem Memon said that as per information received to the chamber, the HESCO used to be supplied with about 900 MW of electricity from the national grid in the past, however, in the current situation, this supply has reduced to about 550 to 600 MW, due to which the HESCO is having to do forced load shedding and load management on various feeders. In addition, frequent technical faults and breakdowns in the NTDC transmission system are also continuously affecting the supply of electricity, due to which the business community is facing severe difficulties.

He said that industries, markets, commercial centres and small businesses in Hyderabad, Kotri, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal and other areas of HESCO are suffering huge financial losses due to unannounced shutdowns and uncertain power supply. Production processes are repeatedly halted, business activities are affected, machinery is rendered inoperative and business costs are continuously increasing, while small and medium-sized businesses cannot afford to obtain electricity from alternative sources.

The HCSTSI president stated that in view of the current monsoon season, if timely maintenance of the transmission system, repair of weak installations and emergency arrangements are not made, the power situation may become more serious, the effects of which will not only affect industry and trade but also the general consumers. He demanded from the federal government that power supply to the HESCO region from the National Grid be restored immediately to the previous level, technical problems and bottlenecks in the NTDC transmission system be removed on a priority basis, industrial and commercial feeders should be protected from forced load shedding as much as possible, and effective coordination between the Ministry of Energy, NTDC, CPPA-G and HESCO should be established to make power supply stable and reliable.

He further said that a strong and uninterrupted power supply is essential not only for industry and trade but also for the stability of the national economy, investment, employment and government revenues. He said that the Hyderabad Chamber is hopeful that the federal government will take immediate steps for a permanent and effective solution to this problem so that the economic activities of the Hyderabad division are not affected.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026