Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Businessmen to file petition against NEPRA & KESC




KARACHI: The businessmen community will file a petition in Sindh High Court against National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) for their unjust tariff.

The petition will be moved by small traders, industrialist, SME’s and citizens of Karachi, this was decided in a meeting at Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), a statement said on Tuesday.

On this occasion, Helpline Trust, Karachi arranged a presentation at FPCCI on the traders anxiety regarding acute shortage of electricity and long hours load-shedding, which has not only left the small industry gasping for breath, but also created a sense of uncertainty in the job market and has badly hurt the businesses of small traders, industrialist, SME’s and citizens of Karachi.

Zakaria Usman, Vice President FPCCI chaired the meeting and has showed great agony over the severe shortage of electricity and withdrawal of subsidy on GST on electric charges, which have spiked the cost of production and resulted in widespread closures of small businesses and job losses.

He emphasised that lack of direction among policy makers is making things worse. He urged the government to reduce power tariffs to pass on the impact to consumers and to instruct KESC to cut down load shedding. He strongly drew the attention of the Government to this important area, which needs immediate review and urgent solution, before it is too late and the small traders loose their patience and come to street and create law and order problem.

He made it clear that the FPCCI cannot be a petitioner, but would provide all assistance if the above petition is filed, and we will continue dialogue with the government and KESC, for removing miseries of consumers of KESC.

Asghar Morawala gave details of steps taken by their committee members in regard to increase in KESC tariff, since October 2008. Zakaria Usman announced a committee who will take technicalities and then recommend with in week, and then Justice (R) Shaiq Usmani will prepare draft of petition, which will be again discussed in the FPCCI, and decision would be implemented.

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