Hours-long power outages: industrialists may announce units' closure, workers' lay off

An emergency meeting of all industrial associations was held here to discuss issue of prevailing load-shedding in industrial areas of the city by Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) on the pretext of less gas supply from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). It was decided that a press conference would be held on Thursday to announced future line of action.
The industrial associations' representatives while expressing sheer dismay over the non-serious attitude of the government said that in such a situation it was not possible to continue the industrial production. They noted that many industries had already been closed down and the caretaker government was not taking the alarming situation seriously.
They said that KESC had almost stopped power generation through its own generating units on the pretext of reduced gas supply. They urged the power utility to generate power on furnace oil. Talking to Business Recorder, Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Muhammad Zubair Chhaya, said that duration of load shedding had increased and not a single shift could be operated on Wednesday.
He said that the industrialists during the Thursday's press conference might announce to close down their units and lay off workers as continuous production in prevailing conditions was not possible. He said that there may be complete shutter-down in all industrial areas from Monday if the government not arbitrate and resolve the issue which has become enormously intolerable.
He alleged that KESC was resorting to blackmailing and not running its generators on oil. Zubair Chhaya urged the government to intervene and resolve the issue between KESC and SSGC as well as direct KESC to operate its units on oil in case of short supply of gas. Chairman Site Association of Industry (SAI), Dr Arshad Vohra, said all industrial units depending on KESC remain closed throughout the day on Wednesday owing to 8-hours long power load shedding in industrial areas.
He said that the power outages were not only depriving the industrial workers of their livelihood but also causing considerable financial loss to the industry as a whole. He said the two hours power cut after every hour has brought the industrial wheel to a halt as the industry needs at least eight hours regular supply of electricity. Former Chairman Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBAATI), Masroor Alvi, said that carrying out load shedding in industrial areas in peak hours was old practice of KESC to pressure the government to direct SSGC to restore gas supply. He said no incentive for investment would work until and unless provision of basic infrastructure and uninterrupted supply of energy was not ensured to industries and businesses.