October 12, 2008	Sunday	Shawwal 12, 1429

KARACHI, Oct 11: Expressing concern over the recent increase in power tariff, members of the City Council on Saturday urged the government to withdraw its decision in the greater interest of the citizens of Karachi.

The members urged the government to immediately take over the Karachi Electricity Supply Company to overcome the current crisis as it was casting a negative impact on the country’s economy besides affecting the people.

They suggested that a convention representing a cross section of the people, including legislators, be called to find a permanent solution to the ongoing electricity crisis in the city affecting every segment of society.

The issue of recent power tariff was raised in the council’s Friday session by the convener, Nasreen Jalil. She said due to the urgency of the issue, she was calling an emergency session of the council on Saturday to discuss the tariff issue, which had created a serious situation in the city.

Although an appeal signed by 136 members was made for calling a requisition session on this vital issue, she said such a meeting could only be held after a three-day notice.

However, she argued that considering the urgency and importance of the issue, she had decided to call an emergency meeting to debate the issue.

In this regard, Ms Jalil also sought the views of the house members, who appreciated her bold initiative and subsequently she allowed the members to debate the issue.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, she said the establishment in Islamabad had always ignored the interests of Karachi. She said that some three years back the Abu Dhabi ruler had offered turbines for Karachi to overcome its electricity crisis. But that project could not materialize due to bureaucratic intrigues.

She said since the project was to be commissioned by the Lyari Development Authority, it was opposed and a suggestion was made as to why this project could not be executed.

Under this project, initially 550 megawatts of electricity was to be generated for the city and eventually it would produce 1300MW electricity.

She urged the president and the prime minister to personally take notice of the issue of power crisis in Karachi as it would create a serious situation in the city, adding that the traders had already given a call for a shutter-down strike and industrialists also threatened to close down their industries.

Initiating the debate, opposition leader Saeed Ghani called for abrogation of the KESC sell-off agreement and stressed that the government should take back the control of the utility organization immediately.Expressing his concern over the deepening electricity crisis, he held the KESC management responsible for the present mess in the KESC and demanded that all those responsible must be taken to task.

Mr Ghani urged the convener to allow the house members to thoroughly debate the issue which was very important and it should not be debated in one session.

Responding to the remarks of the opposition leader, house leader Asif Siddiqui also attacked the KESC management for its inefficiency and corrupt practices.

Mr Siddiqui also called for the immediate withdrawal of the recent increase in power tariff, and help provide relief to the people.

He suggested that the KESC should also withdraw the facility of free units to its employees and demanded the restoration of subsidy.

Opposition member Sheikh Mehbubur Rehman also criticized the establishment for its “biased attitude” and held it responsible for the measures that could ruin Karachi.

Treasury leader Abdul Jalil blasted the KESC management, saying that there was no justification for long-duration load-shedding while, he said, the city needed load-sharing.

Mr Jalil argued that the present crisis was an artificial one and created by the KESC management to serve its own vested interests. He said the city needed 2,280MW electricity but the KESC failed to improve its generation capacity which was not technical but negligence on the part of the KESC management.

The treasury leader alleged that despite power shortage, every month 5,000 new connections were being provided secretly.

He also alleged that there was an unprecedented increase in the non-development expenditures of the KESC which had brought the organization at the brink of collapse.

Opposition leader Advocate Saifuddin also said corruption was one of the main causes in the KESC crisis.

Earlier, opposition leader Ramazan Awan urged the house members to take up the issue of detention of Afia Siddiqui.

The convener adjourned the house to meet again on Monday.