August 7, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-us-Sani 8, 1424

KARACHI, Aug 6: A large number of export-oriented industrial units could not keep their production line moving because of frequent breakdown and long shutdown of power in different industrial areas of the city.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (Sindh-Balochistan zone) Aslam Ahmed Karsaz said that a large number of members were complaining of power breakdown in their industrial units located at different industrial estates.

He said in the current global scenario and tough competition exporters-cum-manufacturers are working hard to keep their market share but it seems that all their efforts are being bulldozed by long and frequent power breakdown.

He said that generally there were complaints of power breakdown for long duration but frequent drop in voltage specially between 10 am to 6 pm, peak hours of production, was also reported.

Aslam Ahmed Karsaz said the fluctuations and drop in voltage resulted in damage to costly industrial machinery but there seems to be no one who could be approached to resolve this issue which was crippling industrial activity and exports of the

country.

He said it was ironical that while other competing countries were providing electricity at competitive rates, but in Pakistan power tariff was higher with long duration breakdown and shutdowns.

He appealed to the managing director of the KESC to take serious note of such developments and try to resolve the issue on war footing otherwise the entire industrial activity in the city would come to a total halt.