November 1, 2001	Thursday	Shaba’an 14, 1422

KARACHI, Oct 31: A two to four hours daily interruption in electric supply due to loadshedding is rendering industry incapable of meeting even those export orders that have been cut down drastically after September 11 attacks on the US.

According to chairman, Council of Karachi’s Industrial Associations (CKIA), Dawood Usman Jhakoora, North Karachi industrial area comprising over 2,000 units, had been hit hard by the KESC’s unannounced loadshedding. Almost all the industries in North Karachi area virtually come to halt for at least eight hours daily due to feeder breakdown and tripping, causing heavy losses to the industries and exports.

Mr Jhakoora said he held a meeting with the KESC managing director and other staff three weeks ago to take notice of power breakdowns in the area but its results were yet to come.

The KESC has also collected huge amount from the industrialists in terms of system development surcharge (SDS) but no development has taken place so far. He said the KESC claimed to have installed four new feeders in North Karachi and Surjani Town areas to avert any power breakdowns but power remained disrupted for at least 14 hours in these areas on Tuesday, causing huge production losses.

Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Farhan ur Rahman, said that the area was facing unannounced power shortage of two to three hours daily.