KARACHI, Nov 8: Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD), in collaboration with and trade and industrial associations, intend to form an action committee to resolve some pressing issues with Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC).

The construction industry is facing hardships in resolving their genuine problems with the KESC, therefore, ABAD members have decided to join hands with industrial and trade bodies to get the KESC issues resolved.

Talking to Dawn on Friday, ABAD chairman Hafiz-ur-Rahman Butt said the construction industry was now heading for collapse due to negative attitude of KESC in resolving their pending issues.

He said that KESC was demanding Rs6,500 per kilo watt from the city builders in shape of load investment security deposit and load regularization charges, which was a sheer disparity as compared to Rs950 being charged by Wapda from builders of various parts of the country.

Butt said that around 40-50 projects had been awaiting load regularization for the last two years despite paying heavy amounts to KESC. He added that now the KESC bosses were demanding new rates as per new policy.

He said his members were facing severe problems due to negative approach adopted by KESC towards the construction industry.

He said due to delay in getting power on flats — builders are unable to deliver the flats to the buyers. For instance, a large number of flats have been constructed in Gulistan-e-Jauhar but builders cannot give the possession to the owners.

On Friday, the ABAD delegation met the president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). ABAD chief said he had also met chairmen of KATI and SITE to take a joint stand against the KESC’s negative attitude.

KCCI president Shaukat Iqbal urged the KESC high-ups to resolve the issue so that people could obtain their flats and construction industry could grow.