The chambers of commerce and industry in Punjab and trade and industrial associations of Lahore in an emergent meeting on Thursday attributed the unprecedented electricity loadshedding the result of incompetence of the authorities concerned and demanded of the government to immediately remove those officers of the Pakistan Electric Power Company (Pepco) and the Lahore Electricity Supply Company (Lesco) who were responsible for the electricity crisis in the country.
Presidents of Sargodha, Sialkot and Gujranwala Chambers of Commerce and Industry, former President Sheikhupura Chamber of Commerce Manzoor Malik, the representatives of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, Pharmaceutical Association, Steel Furnace Owners, Steel Melters Association, representatives of auto vendors, plastic manufacturers, packaging industries, and all major markets in Lahore were present at the meeting that was held at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
The participants who attended the meeting at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) also warned the government that they would be forced to hand over the keys of their premises if the electricity and gas load shedding are not immediately stopped. The entrepreneurs from all major industrial sectors and representatives of all major markets of the city resolved that the selective load shedding in Punjab would not be tolerated any more.
The meeting also questioned the wisdom of the government in granting nine extensions to the Managing Director of the Sui Northern Pipeline Company and demanded his immediate removal. They were unanimous that the gas supplies during the tenure of the SNGPL present Managing Director have been erratic and inconsistent. President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and industry Zafar Iqbal Chaudhry while speaking at the meeting demanded that Pepco and Lesco should be privatised immediately.
He also stressed the need for constitution of new boards in consultation with the private sector so that they could take decision in collaboration with real stakeholders. The government should announce immediate construction of Kala Bagh Dam and assured that the entire amount needed for its construction would be provided by the people of Pakistan. He said that consensus on this issue should be obtained from all federating units on the same manner as done in case of NFC and 18th amendment.
After passing these resolutions, the participants of the meeting staged a protest march towards Governor House. They were carrying banners inscribed with slogans against Lesco and Pepco authorities. Hundreds of entrepreneurs were joined by over thousand workers of the industries and shops that chanted slogans against Pepco, SNGPL and Lesco.
The participants also demanded of the government to expedite work on Neelum-Jehlum, Basha Diamir projects for the sake of our future generations. They said that they were unable to understand that why the government was not taking any initiative to put in place alternate electricity generation projects despite availability of huge coal reserves, vast tracts of Windy areas and abundant solar energy.