The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the authorities of Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco) and Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) to reset their priorities for supply of power and gas, arguing that the protection of domestic consumer lies in smooth running of industries.
President LCCI Muhammad Ali Mian during a meeting with Lesco Chief Akram Arian and SNGPL Senior General Manager Distribution Mujahid Anwar at the Chamber here on Sunday drew the attention of the utilities' officials towards the towards the severe energy crisis being confronted by the industrial sector.
The meeting was also attended by the representatives of more than 20 industrial associations. Mian said that traders and industrialists are aware of the acute shortage of electricity. However, the lopsided and unplanned shut downs have resulted in closure of several industries that is a matter of great concern for LCCI, he noted.
He said that reduced but planned power supply would salvage some production. LCCI president said that owing to the severe energy crisis hundreds of industrial units have so far closed their production and many more are on the verge of closure. He called for taking immediate measures to control line-losses and improve the efficiency of the system.
About the Lesco's proposal of two holidays in a week, the LCCI president emphasised that concrete steps should be taken to overcome the energy deficit instead of taking illogical steps like two off days. He said that decision of two holidays would hit the whole industrial sector hard that was already suffering badly due to electricity/gas load shedding, uncertain political situation and unsatisfactory law & order situation.
While giving a detailed briefing, Lesco Chief Akram Arian said that the shortage of gas and the incidents after the assassinations of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto are the major causes of acute shortage of power in the country. He said that less release of water from Mangla also curtailed the availability of electricity from 3600 MW to 1200 MW.
He urged the business community to adopt power conservation measures to ensure the availability of required power to their industries. He said that the government has allowed a new 430 MW thermal power station in Nandipur that would be put up in collaboration with a Chinese firm.
He informed the participants that as many as seven to eight new power stations are coming up in near future that would provide relief to the industry. However, he said that in the year 2010 the load shedding would be eliminated completely.
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