Exporters and manufacturers have expressed their deep concern over unscheduled electricity load shedding of 12-14 hours hindering the overall productivity resultantly export proceeds were delaying. These views were expressed during a meeting with Chief Executive Officer Gujranwala Electric Power Company held at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Friday.
They alleged that industry was ruined intentionally by the government and concerned departments adding that collapsing of industrial sector means failure of government policies. The tumbling of industrial sector will cause typhoon of unemployment and many social problems in the country, which would be uncontrollable and that will create serious headache for the government they said.
The exporters, manufacturers and chairmen of trade bodies' strongly criticised the poor and ineffective policies of government and Wapda, as a result of which industrial sector was suffering adversely. They said that government had failed in fulfilling its promise of getting rid of load shedding despite of its tall claims.
They said that state is responsible for discharging its responsibilities and accomplish the demands and requirement of the industry but is very unfortunate that all concerned are kept quite. The new projects of power generation and construction new dams are still in limbo due to dirty politics of government and leaders as a result of that, whole nation was suffering.
Speaking on the occasion President SCCI Muhammad Ishaq Butt said this export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry was confronting with multifarious problems due to the load shedding. The overall productivity in this export-city was confronting with multiple problems due to load shedding, while load shedding and power failure had not only disturbed daily chore but also crippled overall production activities in this export-oriented city of the country he said.
Ishaq Butt said that the soccer ball exporters after hectic efforts had regained foreign orders through rigorous efforts by assuring their buyers of timely delivery of consignments but long power load shedding adversely hitting the industry.
The load shedding crisis is highly damaging for soccer ball industry as it would not be able to follow delivery schedule with the natural result of loosing big chance of recapturing the international market of soccer balls and if the situation remained the same a huge chance in the offing is in danger of going astray he said.
The SCCI President further said that local industrialists were making strenuous efforts to promote exports, considering it a national cause and strengthening the national exchequer but it's shocking that Pepco is ignoring such an important industrial city of the country.
He strongly opposed the decision of increase of 13.5 percent in electricity tariff and the increase would create serious problem for the industrial sector and ultimately the industrialists would consider closing their industrial units. Addressing the house the Chief Executive Officer Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco), Muhammad Ibrahim said that we are making adequate efforts to fulfil the requirements of industrial sector but there was a gap between demand and supply.
The demand of electricity was increasing day by day but due to shortfall in electricity the load shedding was being carried out he said. On this occasion students of local colleges brought out a protest rally and staged protest in front of Sialkot Chamber of Commerce when the Chief Executive Officer Gepco was addressing the members of trade bodies.
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