President's, Prime Minister's intervention sought to end loadshedding

Industrialists have sought the intervention of President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to direct Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) to stop load shedding in industrial areas and resolve its payment dispute with Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
They also urged the President and Prime Minister to direct SSGC to increase gas pressure and restore normal gas supply to KESC so that industries should function in full swing They expressed concern and surprise as to why KESC is not paying SSGC dues when KESC consumers are paying dues on time. They term it a conspiracy against inhabitants of Karachi They said that accumulated outstanding dues of SSGC against KESC crossed Rs 32 billion have become a cause for concern
They said whenever there is a pressure from SSGC to clear dues KESC start massive load shedding mainly to blackmail government and pressurise SSGC to return gas supply. They said it is the responsibility of KESC to operate its generators on alternative fuel and fulfil power demand of industries and residential areas incase gas is not available
Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Ehtishamuddin said that KESC carrying out 6 to 8 hour load shedding causing huge production losses. He said there are number of industries where production once stopped causes entire remedial batch losses as it can not be reused. He gave example of pharmaceutical industry where raw martial under process once stopped it cannot be used again
Chairman Site Association of Industry (SAI) Mohammad Irfan Moton said completing export, local orders and delivering goods as per commitment become impossible due to ongoing 8 hours' load shedding He expressed that the cost of manufacturing has gone up due to load shedding as industrialists have to pay full wages to its labour although they remain sitting ideal for eight hours.
Mohammad Irfan Moton said industries lost around 35 percent of their day's production ongoing long hours' load shedding He said operating units on captive power are also becoming impossible owing to low pressure of gas He lashes out on KESC for once again resuming load shedding in the industrial areas of Karachi.
Siraj Kassam Teli, Chairman, Businessmen Group (BMG) and former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) , Mian Abrar Ahmad President KCCI, Younus Muhammad Bashir, Senior Vice-President, Zia Ahmed Khan, Vice-President of KCCI have expressed their deep concern over persistent load shedding in industrial areas and resultant colossal loss to economy and employment.
They said KESC has started load shedding again due to short supply of gas from SSGC and stoppage of GLMP due to winter season shortage in order to manage supply and demand gap. KCCI has discussed this matter with Dr Asim Hussain Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources and also brought it into the notice of Asif Ali Zardari President of Pakistan and Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan about the gravity of the situation and appealed them to intervene in this matter and to issue orders to restore GLMP to KESC to ensure uninterrupted power supply in all the industrial zones.