April 16, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 9, 1429

GUJRANWALA, April 15: The Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco) has stopped electricity supply to all furnaces in the district due to power crisis in the country.

Sources said Gepco chief executive officer Rana Ashraf Zahid reviewed the power crisis in region at a meeting and decided to stop the power supply to all furnaces in city and other parts of district and informed the furnace owners accordingly.

It was stated that the action had been taken to continue power supply to domestic consumers.

The Gepco decision was strongly opposed by the Small Furnaces Association. SFA head Ch Muhammad Safdar said they were ready to work under a schedule given by the Gepco but it was not possible for them to go for closure and render hundreds of workers jobless.

He said the Gepco had been supplying them power at night in the past and same practice could be adopted now.