Businessmen and citizens blast hike in KESC tariff

KARACHI - The business community has robustly condemned the federal government's decision of allowing the Karachi Electric Supply Company to increase electricity charges according to international furnace oil prices. Businessmen were already suffering a lot, financially and mentally these days, as load-shedding had put a halt to their working ability and further increase in KESC tariff would put more financial pressure on the traders and the other consumers, a number of businessmen told The Nation.

In its meeting on Tuesday in Islamabad, the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) had approved a proposal to allow the KESC to pass on the entire impact of hike in furnace oil prices to the consumers that has further annoyed the load-shedding affected people in Karachi.

"Our business is in a miserable state", said a small businessman, adding the current situation of our economy is not satisfactory. Inflation has risen to its greatest level in the country. Business community which has been badly affected due to this on going energy crisis protested with its all might against the increasing electricity charges.

The Nation has gathered the opinion of the business community on brief scale. They have strongly condemned the act of increment in the power tariff.

A spokesman from KCCI has protested on this subject in strong words. He said that they will contest this issue in a meeting with NAPRA on Thursday and will level their arguments and protest to the authorities.

Majeed Aziz from APTMA has condemned this rise in prices strongly. He said that he has warned the business community before hand about this increment. He condemned the KESC for its corruption and said that NAPRA has approved to increase the prices only to hide the inefficiency of the company. He further added that this increment is not un-natural as it was the understanding that this would be done when the new management will take over the KESC. He accused the previous management of befooling the public. "We are hanging against the wall and are forced to close the remaining industries", said Aziz.

Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade & Industry (KATI) Sheikh Fazal-e-Jaleel while talking to The Nation said that the industry could not tolerate this situation because the announced surge in electricity prices would further affect the industry. He said that the business community is not in the favour of this increase as they are facing load-shedding during 70% of the production time daily. Industry is already running in crisis due to this situation, now this added misery of high prices will lead to their complete disintegration, he added.

The businessmen have sought support from the government during this time of crisis. They have urged the government to take action and provide relief to their wretched industrial state so as to revive the industry in the country, which is near to its collapse.