Thursday, December 24, 2009

POWER TARIFF INCREASE CONDEMNABLE; WITHDRAWAL OF SUBSIDY WILL AGGRAVATE PROBLEMS: ABDUL MAJID

President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, while expressing his concern on announced increase of Power Tariffs by 13.5pc effective from next month, stated that in the presence of worst power crisis of history and highest-ever tariffs, in such unpleasant circumstance, the abrupt withdrawal of subsidy for facilitating and meeting the demand, will further aggravate the problems.
Abdul Majid criticized the power increase decision by the concerned quarter of the Government and said that it is an irony that concerned quarters, despite of protest of masses, at several occasion, has previously increased the tariffs on the request of power generating/ distribution companies and now it has further penalized the consumers with its decision to raise power tariffs, as a gift on the dawn of 2010. He commented that no improvement will come in the energy sector if we keep our hands tightened and blame the previous government for the present serious gas and fuel shortages.
Abdul Majid stated that Business Community, especially the export-oriented industry and lifeline consumers will be penalized with the decision. Consumers using less than 100 units would be affected worse and this will prove a last nail in their coffins.
Abdul Majid lamented that no concrete measures have been witnessed regarding improvement in power/ electricity distribution/ transmission infrastructure nor the load-shedding has been controlled.
Abdul Majid commented on the efficiency of KESC and urged cut-down in prolonged unscheduled electricity outages. He said that the increased power tariffs and power outages have crippled the industry to perform at its par and increasing widespread discontentment in business circles.
Abdul Majid said that the Power Distribution Companies, particularly KESC, should take concrete measures to seriously curtail its transmission and distribution losses rather than adding-on different charges to control its financial losses.
The entire business community now demands the government to improve the efficiency of power distribution companies and do not increase the utility tariffs further for the larger interests of the economy and citizens of the country.

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