Growing electricity outage posses serious problems – Mahfooz Elahi

  • April 26, 2011
The ongoing outage of electricity has created serious problems for the industries that are running for below the required level. Government has not taken serious measures to overcome the growing electricity shortfall, resulting in a slow down of economic activity throughout Pakistan, Mahfooz Elahi, President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry viewed talking to a group of industrialists.

Mismanagement, non-utilization of available resources have put the business community and general public in huge problem because of unscheduled load management plans. The situation is getting worse, as result of a poor planning and false promises with the nation said Elahi.

He was concerned over a deteriorating electricity situation and strongly emphasized to the government to give immediate attention to run the existing units removing faults and providing gas.

Mahfooz Said that Iran – Pakistan gas pipeline project must be completed on war footing to ensure supply of gas to power producing units. He said on the Iran side about 1000 km of line has been laid, where as, work on about 200 km line is left. On Pakistan side, work on this project must be expedited for early connectivity of gas line with Iran.

Mahfooz was of the view that in case of further shortage of electricity which at present has almost reached to 5000 mw, would create serious problems in terms of closure of industries are declining exports and unemployment.

President ICCI said he said that many businesses are dependent on electricity but unfortunately long hours load shedding have negatively impacted their businesses and even it has become difficult for them to survive in high inflationary environment. The example of steel bar manufacturing industry, which is badly affected, as gas is cut down for three days a week, where as, for remaining 4 days, the industry faces unscheduled electric power cuts. These types of mismanagement issues will lead to major economic distribution among the working class, he emphasized.