Utility and consumption: Asif urges Karachi industrialists to conserve energy

Says Sialkot has been able to increase exports despite energy shortage

KARACHI: Federal Water and Power Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif has urged Karachi-based industries to conserve energy by making more efficient use of scarce resources.

He said this while speaking to the city’s top industrialists at an event organised by the Karachi Industrial Forum in which all elected representatives of the seven town associations of the city were present.

“The government is committed to adding 10,000 megawatts to the national grid by 2018, but this is not enough. Pakistanis need to conserve both water and electricity because of their scarcity,” said Asif.

“Pakistanis have the habit of wasting scarce resources, but nobody talks about these leakages when we talk about energy shortages.”

When the business community asked about reducing the cost of electricity generation, the minister said the industrialists of Karachi should look at the business community of Sialkot which had increased the city’s exports by 18% this year.



“How has Sialkot, a much smaller city compared to Karachi, been able to increase exports with the similar problem of energy shortage?” he asked. Asif said Pakistan could conserve 1,500-2,500MW by using energy-efficient home appliances and by using electricity efficiently in the factories.

Pakistan Apparel Forum Chairman Muhammad Jawed Bilwani said Karachi, which accounted for approximately 50% of nation’s exports, 54% of total tax collection and 20% of GDP, should be treated with great importance.

“Despite several adverse factors, Karachi is still a vibrant city. If it gets the attention it deserves, it can earn more for the country,” said Bilwani.

He said the industrialists of Karachi fully supported the Sindh Rangers in the Karachi operation.

Bilwani urged the minister to look into consumer complaints against K-Electric regarding its monopoly status which was not governed by the Electricity Act and National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) laws.

The federal government should look at the fuel adjustment surcharge, Special System Development Surcharge, forced undertakings and contracts against the will of consumers.

He said K-Electric claimed that there was no load-shedding in the industrial areas of Karachi while the ground reality was contrary to that. It resorted to load-shedding and called it technical breakdowns.

Responding to the complaints, the minister said the government would take care of the interest of consumers while negotiating the next contract with K-Electric.

“I personally believe there should be some competition in the market. If one factory generates enough electricity for itself, it should have the opportunity to sell excess electricity to nearby factories,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2015.

Like Business on Facebook, follow @TribuneBiz on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.