Industrial sector: Ministry directed to provide proper power supply on top priority
Business Recorder: July 13 2009
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, taking serious notice of power load shedding, have directed the Ministry of Water and Power to provide proper power supply to industrial sector on top priority, and ensure well planned load shedding in all important commercial areas across the country.
Vice President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Pakistan chapter Iftikhar Ali Malik while talking to APP here Sunday said during their separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani a couple of days ago in Islamabad, both categorically assured the top business leaders of the country that top priority would be given to industrial sector for smooth power supply.
He said Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and Federal Minister for Water and Power Pervaiz Ashraf had also assured trade leaders that all out efforts would be made to ensure power supply through proper and well planned load shedding.
Acting President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mian Muhammad Adress and Iftikhar Ali Malik said in the wake of crystal clear assurance by President, Prime Minister, Chief Minister Punjab and Federal Minister for Water and Power, trade bodies across the country should not resort to strike, protest and rallies against the load shedding.
They said the country was passing through the most crucial phase of its existence and surrounded by conspiracies to destabilise it through heinous acts of terrorism. They said at this juncture, the country could not afford strikes, protests and rallies.
Iftikhar Ali Malik said the government was fully exploiting all its resources to generate more power to meet the ever increasing energy demands in the country and directed that all ongoing power projects be completed before its schedule. He said around 4,000 MW more power would be added this year.
When contacted Managing Director Pepco Tahir Basharat Cheema told APP that Chief Executives of all distribution companies across the country and other relevant quarters had been directed to make out feasible load shedding plan so that industrial and commercial activities might not be affected badly and take chamber of commerce and industry of concerned district into confidence before finalising load shedding schedule.