Industrialists have expressed concern over Karachi Electric Supply Company's (KESC) SOS to the government informing them that the company may carry out 14 hours load shedding in industrial areas of the city after May 8 due to power shortage and additional demand during summer.
They alleged that the KESC was blackmailing industrialists and government to get gas without clearing Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) dues as well as obtain furnace oil on discounted rates. It may be mentioned here that up to 8 to 10 hours of load shedding is being observed in various parts of the city including residential, commercial and industrial areas, causing many problems to the citizens, industrialists and small business owners.
They said that KESC was carrying out eight hours announced load shedding in various areas of the city besides daily power failure for hours on one pretext or the other. Some time KESC claim tripping of feeder, breakdown, ongoing repair and maintenance work to carry out unannounced load shedding for hours.
The eight hours load shedding has diminish the pace of production, causing problems to exports to hoonor their export commitments They said that industries neither meet its production target nor fulfill its local supply and export commitments in present circumstances. Talking to Business Recorder, Chairman, Site Association of Industry (SAI), Dr Arshad Vohra said that KESC was already carrying out eight hours load shedding in industrial areas of the city.
He alleged that management of KESC was seeking way to escape as they have already earned sufficient. He said that the management was well aware that public may not tolerate their poor performance. President Site Superhighway Association of Industry (SSAI) , Aslam Rayaz, said that KESC was already carrying out 10 to 14 hours load shedding in industrial areas including 8 hours scheduled and rest unscheduled on one pretext or the other.
He said that industry can not be run in these condition and they may collapsed which might create unrest among employees due to lay off. The Patron In-Chief of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) S. M. Muneer showed concern over the KESC's SOS to the federal government. He said that like Punjab Karachi's industry was also feared to be at stake as KESC has already carrying out load-shedding in Karachi's industrial zones and industrial units are suffering due to the power outages in both the shifts.
KATI Chairman Mohammad Zubair Chhaya has said that Pakistan's economy has already in shambles, industry is closing down, exports target has become impossible to achieve, besides foreign exchange reserves have gone down to dangerous level and at this juncture KESC is going to give another blow to the nation.
He said the caretaker government should intervene without any fear or influence and save the Karachi's industry from total collapse which is feeding the entire country by generating about 70 percent revenue for the government. He said that caretaker government should hold free and fair elections but in the meantime it has to give priority to the country's economy and rescue industry. He also appealed to the provincial minister, Mian Zahid Hussain, to use his good offices to save Karachi's industry from massive loadshedding.
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