Massive electricity outages in Punjab and the government's failure to overcome the energy crisis was resulting in lawlessness, unemployment, poverty and other related problems for the public and industrial sector. Commenting over violent power riots in Punjab, Chief Co-ordinator and former chairman of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (North Zone) Chaudhry Salamat Ali said that the acute power shortage was hurting industrial investment.
Urging the government to end unscheduled power cuts immediately, he said that the increases in power tariff should also be withdrawn, adding that this was in the best national interest.