By By Adeel Pathan
The energy crisis, which is affecting the country’s economy, is also hurting various industrial sectors of the second important city of Sindh, Hyderabad. It is surprising that consumers of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) are being forced to pay higher rates of electricity compared to other distribution companies.
HESCO, which supplies electricity all over Sindh excluding Karachi, is charging higher rates and got approved another raise in its tariff a few days ago.
President of Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) Shafiq Ahmed Qureshi has expressed concern over unannounced load-shedding for four to five hours. According to him, the power outages are not only affecting residents of different localities, but also playing havoc with home-based small industries and big industries, which are unable to meet their export targets.
He said that closure of small industries would render scores of people unemployed, adding that despite concerns raised by consumers and industrialists, there is no respite. He said the situation is getting an ugly turn and protest demonstrations are being held throughout the city against unannounced load-shedding and power breakdowns.
The HCCI president termed the higher rates of electricity in Hyderabad and other parts of Sindh injustice with the province. He said small industries, which are already suffering from problems, could be closed and would further increase unemployment in the province. He called upon authorities to devise a comprehensive plan to get rid of power theft in order to avoid increase in tariff on regular basis.
He demanded that industrial areas should be exempted from unannounced load-shedding and notification of the rise in tariff should also be withdrawn immediately.
Shopkeepers of Qasimabad observed a shutter-down strike on May 13 against the rise in robberies and theft in the area and failure of police to arrest the culprits involved in crimes. All major markets and shopping areas remained closed throughout the day and no untoward incident was reported but the business community of the area demanded immediate recovery of the booty.
In this regard, the HCCI president talked to District Police Officer of Hyderabad Javed Akhtar Oad on the poor law and order situation.
According to an HCCI press release, the president expressed concern over rising robberies in shopping areas of Latifabad, Qasimabad, Phuleli, Paretabad and Faqir Ka Pir and shared the reservations of the business community. He said it is becoming difficult for traders and business community to continue their businesses under such circumstances and demanded that additional police force should be deployed at sensitive areas and criminals should be apprehended without further delay.
The DPO assured the HCCI president of an inquiry into the incidents and recovery of goods along with arrest of culprits.
Meanwhile, the Youth Affairs Department of Sindh government along with an NGO organised a seminar on ‘Agricultural Technology and Economic Empowerment of Rural Youth Through Vocational Enterprises’ on Thursday. The speakers at the seminar were of the view that the government should work as a facilitator for solution of problems of the youth and called for opening of business and employment centres in rural and urban small cities of Sindh.