August 20, 2007	Monday	Sha’aban 6, 1428

FAISALABAD, Aug 19: Residents and businessmen are facing acute hardships due to frequent power outages in this industrial hub of the country for the past many months and no respite is in sight in the near future.

Traders and industrialists blame the Faisalabad Electricity Supply Company (Fesco) for the huge financial losses they face owing to the power crisis amid tall claims by the rulers that they have brought about a development revolution. Residents have urged the government to devise a strategy to rid the nation of power crisis.

Industrialists and businessmen say Fesco had promised to control power outages if they end their business activities by 9pm. The company proposed the idea of revising holidays schedule.

Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed, former general secretary of the Printers Association, said it was ridiculous to say that a country gripped by acute power crisis was making rapid progress. Haji Akram, a cloth merchant, said Fesco had no power management strategy. Ali Raza of Awami Colony said his area braved eight-hour power suspension on Friday coupled with a short supply of drinking water. — Correspondent