Industrialists demand power supply on priority

Islamabad, June 06, 2013 (PPI-OT): A delegation of local industrialists visited Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) to express their strong protest against the 10-12 hours daily load shedding for industry due to which industrial activities were badly suffering.
Addressing the delegation members, Mr. Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry assured them that ICCI would raise their concern at every forum to save the industry from total collapse.

He called upon the government to give preference to industry for power supply as due to long hours of load shedding industry has lost sufficient capacity of its production and export orders worth billions of dollars were being diverted to other countries.
He said Pakistan was already facing huge fiscal deficit and country was in dire need to promote exports for improving balance of payments situation. He was afraid that without regular power supply to industry, the country could lose more exports causing serious problems for the economy and urged that government should give priority attention to this issue and minimize load-shedding for industry to stabilize industrial activities and improve exports.

The delegates were of the view that the order dated 31st May 2013 of the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan was being misinterpreted by PEPCO and all power distribution companies. As a result, load-shedding of the industry has increased from 6 hours to 10-12 hours per day resulting in almost complete closure of industry, job loss of millions of workers, cancellation of exports orders, loss of foreign exchange, production loss and bankruptcies.

They demanded of the government to ensure supply of electricity to industry on priority basis to save it from further destruction.

For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526 and 225 3145
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk