Thanks to Centre, city’s power woes solved for now

All industrial sectors in Karachi would be exempted from electricity load shedding from Monday and power outage hours for domestic and commercial consumers would be reduced from six hours to four hours as the government has arranged additional gas supply for the Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC).
This was announced by Federal Petroleum and Natural Resources Minister Dr Asim Hussain on Saturday after a meeting at the Sindh Governor’s House, where officials and representatives of concerned stakeholders, including the KESC, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Pakistan State Oil and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) were also present.
It was decided in the meeting that the KESC, which was troubled by gas shortage, would be provided almost 180mmcfd gas daily.
During a media briefing following the meeting, the petroleum minister said the industries of Karachi would remain closed for four Sundays in December, whereas normal power and gas supply would be restored in January next year.
He said the city’s industries have agreed to keep their units closed for four days next month.
Besides, CNG stations across the city would be closed for two days a week to conserve gas, whereas the decision would be revised in January as it is expected that gas supply would be improved by then.
The minister, who is visiting the metropolitan to resolve the power crisis, said the KESC in return would ensure regular payment to the SSGC as the dues the former owes to the latter have swelled considerably.
“As the gas quantity is already limited against the ever-increasing demand in the country, a gas management programme is needed to be introduced immediately,” he added.
He also said the KESC was not provided additional and subsidised furnace oil this time, and gas supply was increased only to ensure minimum tariff to consumers.
Talking to the media, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan said due to the current electricity crisis, industries have been forced to shut down.
“After the fresh decision, the industrial sector would be exempted from power outages, whereas the duration of load shedding has also been reduced,” he added.
The petroleum minister had earlier held a meeting with industrialists on Saturday morning at the KCCI office, where he had assured the business community that the power issue would be resolved soon.
On Friday, the highly frustrated business community of Karachi had decided to not pay monthly electricity bills because the industrial sector was being subjected to 12-hour-long load shedding.
Instead of paying the KESC, industrialists had decided to submit their electricity bills to the offices of the seven trade associations, namely the SITE Association of Industry, Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry, Landhi Association of Trade and Industry, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, SITE Superhighway Association of Industry and Bin Qasim Association of Trade and Industry, to protest the unjustified power outages, which have almost stopped activities in the sector.
On the other hand, the KESC slammed KCCI’s announcement and said all electricity consumers, especially industrialists, who do not pay their bills on time would be shown zero tolerance for deliberately defaulting.