The Ministry of Information Technology showed its dismal over load shedding and frequent unannounced power outages, which are affecting productivity and damaging the sensitive IT equipment heavily dependent on smooth power supply, reliable sources confide to this scribe here on Wednesday.
Secretary Ministry of Information Technology in a letter to Secretary Ministry of Water and Power sought exemption of software technology parks from load shedding. Secretary IT further said that there are repeated complaints of load shedding particularly unscheduled power outages from the Software Technology Parks (STPs) located in Awami Markaz and Evacuee Trust Complex etc.
The companies located in these Parks have informed that long duration of load shedding at times without any notice is not only hampering the creativity of the workforce but also causing immense damage to the most sensitive apparatus costing millions of rupees, he added.
In order to substantiate the claim of these companies, Secretary IT said, "I have obtained the schedule of load shedding of STP-I, ie Awami Markaz for June 9, 2008. It shows that there were four scheduled load shedding and two unscheduled outages".
DETAILS ARE AS UNDER: Schedule of load shedding of Software Technology Park, Awami Markaz (STP-I)
SCHEDULE OF LOAD SHEDDING: 05:00 AM to 06:00 AM; 08:00 AM to 09:00 AM; 12.00 Noon to 01:00 PM and 04:00 PM to 05:00 PM.
UN-SCHEDULED OUTAGES: 10:00 AM to 10:20 AM and 02:25 PM to 02.40 PM. Some of the institutions like hospitals, defence installations and important industries are exempted from power load shedding. The Information Technology equipment also comes very close to the definition of continuous industry, the Secretary continued.
Software industry is budding in Pakistan and needs all out support to compete with the regional players, but such inconvenience and losses are discouraging the few investors who are trying their utmost to make it self-sufficient, the letter added.
He requested the Water and Power Secretary to look into the matter and exempt Software Technology Parks throughout Pakistan for load shedding. In this age of computer technology investor in this sector requires incentives to make IT industry accessible to people living in towns and villages for making the economic activity cost-effective, saving time and resources.