More and more generators' sale and repair shops are coming up in the city in the wake of increasing demand of generators owing to long hours load shedding and frequent power failure. Import of power generating machines may increase substantially owing to prevailing power crises in the country. Beside imports the ongoing power outages have also increased the sale of generators, which are dual fuel operated - with petrol and natural gas.
The increase in demands has also pushed the prices of generators upwards owing to rupee's depreciation against the US dollar and the rise in freight charges due to hike in fuel charges. The shopkeepers said the demand of Chinese generators was more as compared to generators made in other countries including Japan because of price difference. The dealers, dealing in Japanese manufactured generators, are also selling Chinese-assembled generators.
The prices of Chinese generators range from Rs 35,000 to 950,000 with different brands and power generating capacities, and of varying quality. Last year these generators cost Rs 30,000 to 70,000. Similarly, the rates of Chinese-assembled, Japanese brands have reached Rs 55,000 to 195,000, with different power generating capacities, which last year were in the range of Rs 45,000 to 145,000.
Total import bill of generators for the July-May 2011-12 period rose to 951 million dollars as compared to 919 million dollars in the same period of last year. The import of power generating machines rose to 72 million dollars in May 2012 as compared to 50.58 million dollars in April 2012.
The traders said that majority of imported generators were finding way in Punjab province which was already in the grip of very serious power crises. "Everyone, who can afford to spend 30,000 to 40,000 rupees, is purchasing a small generator that can operate on oil and natural gas, just to be able to sleep at night", the dealers said. They said the sale of generators in Karachi was increasing day by day owing to frequent power failure and loadshedding in residential areas.
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