Industrial areas: Ibad asks KESC to ensure smooth power supply

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat ul Ibad has directed the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to streamline its distribution system and ensure uninterrupted power supply to industrial areas of the city. The Governor also directed the KESC and SSGC to improve their load management and cooperate with each other. He observed that the country could not afford closure of industrial units.
He gave these directives during an emergency meeting called by him on Tuesday to discuss the issue of loadshedding in industrial areas of the city with the representatives of industries, CEO KESC Tabish Gohar and Managing Director Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) Dr Faizullah Abbasi.
According to informed sources, the Governor during the meeting also contacted Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Naveed Qamar on telephone and discussed with him the issue of short supply of gas to KESC. The Governor also formed a monitoring committee comprising Advisor to Chief Minister Sindh on Investment Zubair Motiwala, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Saeed Shafiq, Vice President KCCI Junaid Esmail Makda, former Chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Mian Zahid Hussain, CEO KESC Tabish Gohar and Managing Director SSGC Dr Faizullah Abbasi. The committee will monitor working and progress of KESC and SSGC.
Talking to Business Recorder, Junaid Makda said that industries faced 10 hours of loadshedding on Tuesday and hoped that it would reduce substantially by Wednesday. He said that SSGC has agreed to increase gas supply to KESC from 30 MMCFD to 50 MMCFD. Makda urged that KESC must exempt CNG stations and industries from loadshedding. Chairman Kati Johar Ali Qandhari appreciating Dr Ibad's efforts to minimise loadshedding in the city.
Qandhari urged the federal government to intervene and device a permanent solution to power crisis to ensure smooth operation of industries. He observed that industries could not be run without 100 percent supply of electricity. The meeting was attended by S M Munir, Siraj Kassim Teli, Saeed Shafiq, Junaid Esmail Makda, Johar Ali Qandhari, Mian Zahid Hussain, Zubair Motiwala, Chairman Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry Mohammad Irfan, Dr Faizullah Abbasi, Tabish Gohar and other representatives of business community.
Earlier, President KCCI Saeed Shafiq in a letter to Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah warned that power supply cut would lead to collapse of industrial units resulting in huge labour layoffs and worsening of law and order situation in the city. He also requested the Chief Minister to call a high-level meeting wherein MDs of SSGC and KESC, relevant Minister/ Secretaries and representatives of trade and industry be invited to resolve the issue on permanent basis.