Political chaos, exorbitant energy cost listed as key challenges
The energy minister pointed out that the government had stopped CPPA-G from buying more electricity because “we want to give the business of electricity selling and buying to the private sector”. Photo: file
Sindh’s former caretaker minister for industries and commerce Muhammad Younus Dagha has said that if two main challenges including political instability and high energy cost are brought under control, the country can grow by leaps and bounds.
He said the caretaker government had made efforts to improve the performance of government departments despite a limited time and won laurels. “The system of e-services should continue and not be reversed. Karachi unfortunately has no say in policymaking despite contributing major revenue to the national exchequer.”
He stressed the need for taking up the issues of industries in the higher echelons of the government with all facts and figures. Speaking about freight charges, Dagha said a comprehensive presentation would be delivered to the government’s quarters soon as the country was paying $3-4 billion per annum in freight charges.
He said this while talking to the business community at a reception hosted by the SITE Association of Industry (SAI) in his honour.
Earlier, SAI President Muhammad Kamran Arbi appreciated efforts of Younus Dagha during his tenure as a minister for resolving industry-related issues by initiating coordination with all relevant stakeholders, and launching e-services and digitisation of land record of all industrial estates in the province. “He has worked and expedited pending matters in all the relevant departments.”
Meanwhile, while expressing concern about the poor law and order situation, including rising street crimes and target killings in Karachi, which has taken a heavy toll on businesses, business leaders while sharing their views with The Express Tribune said that eliminating street crimes, armed robberies and target killings must be a top priority of both the federal and provincial governments.
Karachiites and business leaders have been clamouring against the runaway crime rate but to no avail so far, they said. The business magnates added that though the port city was paying the highest taxes among all cities in the country, “it is really a shame that Karachiites have been left at the mercy of killers and robbers.”
“A drama of Karachi Safe City (KSC) project is being staged for years without any implementation.”
They said bureaucrats and politicians were always enjoying all privileges at luxury offices-cum-residences and on tours with VIP protocols and police security. “These people are unaware of the plight, torment and agony of the Karachiites.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2024.
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