The Managing Director Pakistan Electric Power (Pepco) Rasul Khan Mahsud has said that there is no load shedding for the industry and the Pepco is meeting entire industry power requirements. He was talking to an eleven-member delegation of Steel Melters Association led by Masood Gul at the Wapda House on Tuesday. Dilating on the present power situation in the country the MD Pepco said that we have to be realistic and would have to make difficult decision.
Rasul Khan Mahsud said that as a nation, we have to discipline ourselves and use the available energy responsibly so that every segment of the society shares the burden, this he said would help us in conserving energy and overcoming the present energy challenge.
He said that Government is fully aware of the importance of industry and assured that industrial sector would not be subjected to load shedding in the event of the any gap between demand and supply in future as well.
Rasul Khan Mahsud urged the delegation that they should face the energy challenge as a nation and resist the temptation of protecting our vested interests at the cost of national interest. Mahsud said while Pepco endeavours to provide uninterrupted power supply to the industrial sector it is also cognisant of the difficulties and responsibilities towards its lifeline consumers who consume less than 50 units.
Masood Gul apprised MD Pepco of the difficulties being faced by the Steel manufacturers because of high tariff rates. Gul informed the Managing Director, that the Steel Melters were contributing Rs 25 billion per annum as revenue and that there were hardly any complaints of theft against them. Gul said that the present economic situation had affected their business and demand of steel had decreased which had affected the financial health of Steel industry. Gul requested the Managing Director Pepco to review the present Tariff being charged to the steel industry.
The Managing Director said that he was sympathetic to the problems being faced by steel industry and was of the view that the industrial sector should be given top priority and necessary concessions as they played a pivotal role not only in the growth of the economy but also created employment opportunities.
Mahsud however, said that issue of tariff should be taken up with Nepra by the Steel Melters Association as it was responsible for determining the power tariff. He however, assured the Steel Melters Association that he would take up their case at the proper forum.