The traders and industrialists in this commercial hub have rejected what they called it the fresh unjustified raise in power tariff allowed by Nepra to KESC. Patron In-Chief Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) S.M Muneer, Chairman Ehtesham Uddin, President All Karachi Industrial Alliance (AKIA) Mian Zahid Hussain, Vice Chairmen Hasham A Razzak Tariq Malik and Chairman Press and Media Committee, Syed Johar Ali Qandhari in a joint statement condemned the government’s anti-industry act of allowing the KESC yet another increase that they said would have a killing affect on the already ailing economy. They said industry was already struggling hard to survive due to the frequent increases in utilities and POL prices and imposition of other levies and surcharges, the government has allowed another bombshell to kill the industry. “Frequent Increases in utilities tariffs have already created chaos for general public, trade and industry and now it seems that government is willfully creating hurdles in country’s economic survival”, Ehtesham said adding that the country is facing severest power crisis of its history and in such unpleasant circumstances, the approval of summary to further increase power tariff by Rs1.60 per unit will prove the death knell to the industry. The industry’s representatives said that business community fear that export targets fixed by the government can in no way be achieved if present trend of rapidly increasing utility tariffs and power crisis continues. Exporters materialize their orders in advance and unprecedented increase in utility tariffs incur them losses in the form of increased cost of manufacturing, they said dding that prolonged unscheduled electricity outages have compelled the export-oriented Industry to the verge of collapse, they added. They demanded of the government to immediately reverse the decision in greater interest of the country and nation.
Cottage industry; herein lies the solution: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Friday urged the government to facilitate the ailing cottage industry to offset the financial losses it has been suffering because of unprecedented and unscheduled electricity load-shedding and intervention by various provincial departments.
The LCCI President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh was talking to a 25-member delegation of cottage industry belonging to Daroghawala and Sultan Mehmood Road Industrial areas and headed by Chairman All Pakistan Cottage Industry and Small Traders Ghulam Sarwar Malik. Haji Sultan Mehmood Sabri, Haji Barkat Munir were prominent among the delegates.
The LCCI President while assuring the cottage industry delegation of his full support said that the LESCO Chief would be informed of the situation being faced by these small businessmen and would asked to ensure power supply for at least 8 to10 hours at a stretch.
The LCCI President said that the high rates of electricity being charged from them and longer hours power cuts have totally destroyed the small businesses therefore the government should come up with a package of incentives in shape of cut in electricity tariff and power outages duration. He said that it is beyond the understanding of the Lahore chamber of commerce and industry that why these clusters of the cottage industry have not so far been given the industrial area status. He said that the government must understand the importance of cottage industry in the country as it is not only generating revenue for the government but also providing jobs to million of people. He said that it was very unfortunate that while preparing schedule for power cuts the LESCO authorities do not consult the stakeholders. He said that Darogawala Industrial area that has yet not been granted the status of industrial area despite repeated assurances by the government is a hub of cottage industry and now-a-days these small businessmen are sitting idle only because of senseless power cuts by the LESCO.