Traders seek tariff cut, like that of Punjab

Say people curtailing meals, taking kids out of school to pay energy bills

KARACHI:

Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh has urged the government to give a similar relief in electricity tariff to Sindh, as announced by the government of Punjab, because the public and business community are going through the toughest time due to unbearably high electricity bills.

Last week, a tariff concession of Rs14 per unit has been announced for electricity consumers of Punjab in the face of soaring power cost and increasing calls for a marked reduction.

"The KCCI vociferously appeals to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Federal Minister for Energy Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari to immediately announce a relief in electricity bills for Sindh, which is contributing matchlessly to Pakistan's economy," he said in a statement on Monday.

Sheikh called on the federal government to realise the hardships being faced by the business community of Sindh where the cost of doing business had escalated sharply due to exorbitantly high energy tariffs. Their difficulties are compounded when they are forced to pay huge amounts for fulfilling their water needs, which is easily available at nominal rates in Punjab and other provinces.

The KCCI president said the hardships for Sindh inhabitants had worsened to such a level where people were either curtailing their daily meals or taking their kids out of schools so that they could save some money for paying electricity bills, which should be a matter of grave concern for policymakers, who usually claim of taking steps to ensure economic prosperity.

"How could a country prosper when children are being taken out of schools and people have no other option but to skip meals for paying electricity bills," he asked.

He called it a very serious issue, which would have a deep negative and irreparable impact on Pakistan's future.

Keeping in view the contribution being made by Karachi to Pakistan's economy, Sheikh hoped that the federal government would soon announce a relief in electricity bills for the people and business community of Sindh.