The traders of Rawalpindi have called off shutter down strike and protest rally against load shedding after meeting with Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf Friday at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI). In the meeting, a committee comprising traders, industrialists and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco) officials was constituted to recommend suggestions to provide maximum relief to the business community.
The committee is to consider all viable suggestions and shortly submit new load management plan for the business community to the minister for approval. While addressing the meeting, the minister said the government is taking all possible measures to overcome the power crisis. He briefed the business community on the reasons behind the current power deficit.
Low water storage, shortage of gas and early advent of summer are the main reasons, he said. The minister also briefed the businessmen on the circular debt issue of previous government and measures being taken to offload it. He assured that 1000 MW will be added to the system by end of next month while the hydel power generation will improve shortly due to increased inflow in dams.
He underlined the need for energy conservation and early closure of shops and said that the energy thus saved could be supplied to the industrial sector. The minister waived off the surcharge amount for affectees of Ghakar Plaza, billed by Iesco and installation of transformers without payment of reconnection charges. The minister assured maximum supply to Rawalpindi Industrial Estate and business centres.
The business community assured the minister of their full co-operation and said that they will join hands with the government to overcome power crisis. Earlier, President RCCI, Sheikh Kashif Shabbir assured full support of the business community to the minister and announced to call off the strike.
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