HYDERABAD: President Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry Muhammad Farooq Shaikhani expressed concern over the worst load shedding in Hyderabad, which is the result of incompetency and poor planning of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO). Shaikhani emphasized that the city’s economic activities have faced significant disruptions due to these issues.

He stated that Hyderabad is currently experiencing unprecedented challenges in terms of power supply, with extended periods of scheduled load shedding lasting over 10 hours. Additionally, residents are facing unanticipated interruptions in power, further adding to the inconvenience with hours-long durations of unannounced load shedding.

He highlighted the pressing issue of soaring electricity prices while underscoring a paradoxical scenario where, despite timely payment of electricity bills, households and business centers are grappling with a lack of power supply. This predicament is significantly impacting various small businesses, such as tailoring, ironing, photocopying and mobile shops, causing hardships on the streets.

The ripple effect extends to common laborers who are finding it challenging to secure employment due to the dearth of electricity with daily wage earners particularly bearing the brunt of the detrimental effects of prolonged load shedding.

He conveyed that the critical infrastructure of the WASA system has been severely affected by the unprecedented electricity load shedding. The operational capabilities of WASA, particularly its pumping station, have been compromised, leading to an inability to supply water to consumers and address sewage issues. This unfortunate situation has resulted in the accumulation of sewage water in business centers, hindering the normal operations of the business community.

Additionally, the repercussions extend to the economic domain as the government of Pakistan is experiencing substantial financial losses in terms of tax collection amounting to billions of rupees.

Shaikhani highlighted the seasonal disparity in electricity consumption, emphasizing that winter demand is only half compared to summer. In principle, this should result in reduced electricity load shedding across the country.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024