KARACHI, Oct 20: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement rejected on Saturday the increase in power tariff by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) and termed it an attempt to deprive the city and the province of foreign investment.

Speaking at a press conference at Karachi Press Club, the members of MQM Coordination Committee Aftab Shaikh, Nasreen Jalil, Kunwar Khalid Yunus and Khalid Bin Waleed, maintained the raise in the power tariff would directly affect the middle class and the poor. It would also discourage foreign investors.

They said an ordinary house consumed more than 100 units a month while the government had given an exemption on the increase on 50 units which was a cruel joke with the people.

“If the government wants to show sympathy with the people, it should exempt those consuming up to 200 units a month,” they added.

Aftab Shaikh said the Nepra approved an increase of 11 paisa per unit for Wapda and 13 paisa per unit for KESC which showed the double standards being followed by the Nepra. It amounts to extending step-motherly treatment to KESC or the Karachiites.

Referring to the international scenario, he said the country was passing through a critical phase and at this juncture the increase in power tariff was an act to push the country towards anarchy.

“What wisdom lies in this decision,” he questioned.

Pointing towards the cut in the prices of furnace oil in international market, he said the furnace oil was at Rs12,548 per ton in October 2000, and it had reduced to Rs10,473 per ton in September 2001, which showed a decline of Rs1,300 per ton but the cutback in the prices was not passed onto people.

The Nepra approved the increase in power tariff on the basis of an increase in oil prices which was incomprehensible, he added.

He recalled that the President Pervez Musharraf promised the nation some three months back that there would be no increase in power tariff but the promise was not fulfilled. He raised a query that the power tariff was increased on the basis of a raise in oil price in international market but it was never reversed when the oil prices set a declining trend.

Kunwar Khalid Yunus said the furnace oil was unloaded at the sea port in Karachi and it was absolutely logical that the price should be lesser here in Karachi as compared to prices in the upcountry. Similarly the increase in power tariff should have been lesser for KESC but the decision taken by the Nepra was entirely illogical.

Aftab Shaikh asked the government to disband the automatic fuel adjustment system, and instead a committee of experts be set up, having representation of all of the provinces.

Criticizing the unabated power theft in the city, Mr Shaikh said the services of army were hired to check the kunda system but illegal connection were still there and the legal consumers were continuously suffering from power failure and loadshedding.

He said industrialists and businessmen make an approximate payment of Rs30 billion to KESC in terms of consuming electricity. The three per cent increase in power tariff would generate almost Rs one billion. It was felt that whenever establishment wanted to earn revenue, it raised power tariff to acquire its target, he added.

He maintained that 70 per cent Karachiites paid bills regularly whereas the institutions of the law enforcement agencies, police stations, police headquarters, land mafia and katchi abadis do not pay their bills regularly which poses a burden on the power company, and despite this the legal consumers are made to suffer owing to frequent power shutdowns. Loadshedding also affects educational institutions and industrial production and business and trade activities are hit and surgical operations are postponed in the hospitals.