It’s a masterpiece conspiracy!

PIAF has termed the increase in electricity prices a consipiracy to make the country a trading place as manufacturers would not be able to pay such a high prices of power and become uncompetitive in the international Market. In a press statement issued here Thursday, Chairman PIAF Engr. Sohail Lashari strongly critisized unjustified increase in electricity tariff and urged the government to withdraw the raise in the larger interests of trade and industry that had already been facing multiple internal and external challenges. He said that electricity prices in Pakistan were already higher than the other countries of the region and the new hike would push the crisis-hit industrial sector to the wall. He said that how Pakistani merchandise would be able win buyers in the international market when their prices would be higher than the same quality goods of other countries. He said that according to the reports more than 40 per cent electricity was being stolen but instead controlling the theft & the line losses the authorities were busy in making further increase in electricity prices while it is a proven fact that the raise in the tariff always leads to increase in the incidence of power theft. He said that the country would become a trading hub if appropriate measures to ensure proper supply of cheap electricity to the industry are not taken but nobody bothered to even listen to the voice of trade and industry. He said that the flight of capital had intensified in the recent years only because of flawed government policies especially relating to energy and infrastructure. Had a litten been given to these areas, there could have been no relocation of industrial units to Bangladesh and Malaysia.He said that country was facing a huge energy deficit since last few years. Massive loadshedding had crippled the industrial activities, thousands industrial units had closed down or relocated while million industrial workers have lost their jobs but instead of initiating any mega power projects, government remained busy to increase power tariff.He said that the price increase would badly affect the agriculture sector of Pakistan, which was backbone of our economy and feeding to more than 70 per cent of the population. Sohail Lashari demanded of the government to withdraw recent increase in power tariff and take measure to enhance cheap power generation in the country.