KARACHI, Oct 18: Industrialists and traders at a representative meeting in Karachi on Saturday decided with one voice to stop payment of the bills issued by the Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) in September till the officials of the utility come to them and explain reasons of an increase of more than 70 per cent in the charges at a time when world oil prices are showing a downward trend.

“Sindh Industries and Commerce Minister Rauf Siddiqui has assured us that non-payment of September electricity bills with enhanced tariff will not result in power disconnection till KESC officials convince us of the phenomenal increase in electricity bills,’’ Ijaz Nisar, newly-elected president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, informed Dawn on phone late Saturday evening.

He said all relevant industry and trade bodies of Karachi attended the meeting at the SITE Association of Karachi on Saturday where the Sindh industries minister also came and heard speeches of business leaders on implications of the rise in electricity tariff.

“Power bills with enhanced tariff should not be paid by consumers till a final decision is reached between consumers and the KESC in a meeting in which the representative of the Sindh government is also present,’’ the KCCI chief said.As a preemptive measure, the KESC is said to have invited business leaders of various trade bodies and market associations on Monday for a meeting with the obvious purpose of creating a division.

In retaliation, the businessmen decided to boycott the KESC meeting. Instead, the KCCI leadership has asked the KESC officials to visit them on Monday and explain to businessmen the logic of increase in electricity bills.

“If the KESC does not respond to our request on Monday, we have convened a big meeting of all Karachi-based businesses on Tuesday to decide a future line of action,” Anjum Nisar declared in a threatening tone.