350 industrial units of LTIE: prolonged loadshedding adversely affects production

Prolonged load-shedding in Lahore Township Industrial Area has sharply curtailed productions in as many as 350 industrial units of the Lahore Township Industrial Estate besides putting at stake the jobs of millions of daily wagers. Lahore Township Industrial Association Chairman Iftikhar Bashir Chaudhry in a statement on Friday said the industrialists were in deep troubles but the Lesco officials were least concerned and paying no heed to the genuine demand of the area businessmen.
The Lesco authorities had resorted to repeated power fluctuations in a clear violation of agreement with the industrialists of the area thus pushing the entire industry to the wall, he said. He said if immediate measures were not taken to ensure continuous supply of electricity to the industrial units, nothing could stop the industrial wheel from coming to a grinding halt and resultant massive lay-offs. He said industry was already passing through a very difficult times and the non-supply of power and gas was adding fuel to fire.
Iftikhar Bashir said it was very unfortunate that despite passage of four years, the regime had failed to take corrective measures. The reports of State Bank of Pakistan and Transparency International had already revealed the government performance, he added. The LTIA Chairman said it would be wiser on the part of the government if it took immediate measures to help industry get rid of prolonged load-shedding, as the economic situation was fast getting out of hand. He appealed to Prime Minister Gilani to direct the Pepco authorities to ensure continuous supply of electricity to the industry for the sake of economy and the country that was facing multiple external challenges as well.