KARACHI, May 17: A large number of industrial bodies want the incoming government to make a major shift in energy policy by allowing only local private companies to set-up energy distribution companies.

Several industrial clusters have drawn the attention of elected government of PML-N towards the fact that around 25 to 50 per cent of captive power plants in the city were presently closed down.

It was pointed out that many industries have well-equipped coal fired turbines; agricultural waste fired turbines and captive power plants run on combined cycle basis but these were not functioning.

The industry leaders claimed that around 5,000MW could be generated from these power plants and will greatly help reduce current gap of 7,000MW between demand and supply of power.

If these power plants are allowed to supply electricity by establishing energy distribution companies, the move will help overcome power shortage to industries without any new investment in the energy sector and help save foreign exchange.

The representatives pointed out that since the overheads of these power plants will be low as compared to the large power distributors like WAPDA, KESC, FESCO, GEPCO, LESCO etc, industries will get power at cheaper rates. As a result, the cost of doing business will go down considerably.

The representatives stressed that closed industries with immense capacity of generating power should be freely allowed to supply electricity to the energy starved industries without any government interference.

The representatives maintained that high voltage fluctuation has been causing millions of rupees losses to industry by damaging costly plants and equipments.

On energy conservation side, it was suggested that all advertising neon light signs should be put off after 12 midnight and one street light after two lights be kept on.

It was also suggested that Saturday holiday for the government office and banks be scrapped forthwith to encourage higher industrial productivity.

Leaders who approached the elected government included M Jawed Bilwani chairman Pakistan Apparel Forum (PAF), chairman Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (Kati) Mohammed Zubair Chhaya, F B Area Association of Trade and Industry Haroon Shamsi, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry Mohammad Farooq Khatura and chairman SITE Association (Super Highway) Methabuddin Chawla.