Energy-related problems: Industrialists confused about getting help

HAMID WALEED

LAHORE: The government's move to wind up the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) and shift all of its powers to the Basharat Cheema-led Energy Management Cell has confused industrial consumers. They wonder whom to approach for redressing their energy-relating problems.

Industry sources said senior Pepco officials had been advising them to divert all their correspondence to the EMC in Islamabad. However, industrial circles had no idea where they should send their faxes or how to locate Cheema.

Tahir Basharat Cheema's office was earlier located on the ground floor of the Wapda House. However, after his appointment as the chairman of EMC, industrialists thought he would be given an office in Islamabad.

Despte hectic efforts spanning four days, industrialists had not been able to locate Cheema's address.

President Asif Ali Zardari had ordered the minister for water and power to exempt textile industry from load-shedding during his recent visit to Lahore. It was followed by correspondence between the textile association and Pepco authorities.

Interestingly, Cheema is also not returning media calls.

Sources said that all correspondence had now been directed to the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) in the hope that it would somehow reach Cheema.