August 11, 2007	Saturday	Rajab 26, 1428

KARACHI, Aug 10: Industries in various areas suffered production losses during the last two days, in some cases up to 70 per cent as a sizable number of workers failed to turn up owing to incessant rains and thin public transport on Thursday and Friday. Industries abstained from taking the risk of damaging their shipments and opted to halt supply to domestic market.

Besides, many markets remained partially closed and shopkeepers either observed half day or kept their shops closed for the whole day.

As a result of leaner production, exporters faced problems in meeting deadlines. Shipment was also affected on Friday because of thin presence of container goods’ carriers in the city.

Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Masood Naqi, said a majority of labourers reside in Landhi, Korangi and Malir where water-clogged roads restricted mobility and many workers could not make it to their factories.

He said workers’ attendance reduced to 30 per cent which resulted in production loss by about the same percentage.

He said rains almost paralysed local supplies and foreign shipments.

Masood said only 10 units have captive power facility (gas power generation), out of total 2,500 units while 60pc units have standby diesel power generators of over 50 KVA.

Captive power definitely costs 50 per cent less in production cost as compared to the KESC, while power generation through diesel generators increases production cost by 50pc.

Korangi industrial area consumes a total load of 250MW daily in which over 90 per cent is dependent on power from the KESC.

Chairman, SITE Association of Industry, Imran Shaukat, said production plummeted by 50pc in the area owing to 20 per cent decline in workers’ arrival while the rest of damage had been done by load-shedding as 30 per cent feeders in the SITE area tripped on Friday.

He said a majority of workers reside in nearby Banaras, Labour Colony, Rasheed Colony, etc., who turned up, and their arrival helped save a big loss.

The major problem in this area was power failure that affected production adversely.

Chairman, FB Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Masroor Ahmed Alvi, said production had fallen by 50 per cent despite the fact that labour class mainly comes from New Karachi, People’s Colony, Nazimabad, F B Area, North Nazimabad, Sohrab Goth, etc.

He said local supplies could hardly remain at 20 per cent from industrial areas because of low availability of public transport. Exporters had definitely suffered losses in meeting their deadlines.

Masroor said out of 2,500 units in the areas only three to four units manage their productivity on captive power generation basis which costs 30 to 40 per cent less than the KESC’s tariff.

However, 90 per cent of the units have standby generators, ranging from 100 to 450 KVA.

He claimed that these costly diesel generators cost 30 per cent more while running the production units as compared to KESC power supply.

Chairman, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI), Faraz Mirza, said local production declined by 70 per cent as many industries remained shut for the whole day.

Power breakdowns further crippled the industrial activities.

He said hardly one per cent units, out of 2,500 units in the area, have captive power generation facility, while 50 per cent have standby diesel generators of 50 to 250 KVA.

Faraz said captive power generation saves 30 per cent production cost as compared to KESC after recent increase in power tariff by 29 paisa per unit.