Exporters and manufacturers have expressed their deep concern over the unscheduled electricity load shedding of 12-14 hours daily in the export-oriented city and hub of cottage industry and foreign exchange earner of US 1 billion dollar annually, through its export.
The overall productivity in this export-city was confronting with multiple problems due to load shedding, while load shedding and power failure had not only disturbed daily chore but also crippled the overall production activities in the city. The soccer ball exporters, after hectic efforts, had regained foreign orders through rigorous efforts by assuring their buyers of timely delivery of consignments, but long power load shedding is adversely hitting the industry.
It may be pointed out that diversion of orders of soccer balls back to Sialkot is due to the failure of India and China to fulfil the delivery schedule and lacking necessary capacity and capability. The load shedding crisis is highly damaging for soccer ball industry, as it would not be able to follow delivery schedule with the natural result of loosing big chance of recapturing the international market of soccer balls.
If the situation remained the same, a huge chance in the offing is in danger of going astray. Local industrialists were making strenuous efforts to promote exports, considering it a national cause and strengthening the national exchequer, but it's shocking that the Pepco is ignoring such an important industrial city of the country.
The business community of Sialkot demanded that the President and Prime Minister may intervene and instruct Pepco to refrain from unscheduled load shedding by adhering to the schedule, circulated by the concerned authorities as minimised load shedding in Sialkot, so that the export production may not be hampered.