PESHAWAR, May 4: Industrialists and traders in the NWFP have opposed the government’s decision to close markets after sunset and divert industrial activities from peak hours to overcome power shortage.

“These cosmetic arrangements cannot be termed lasting solutions. The government should take some practical and rational measures to pull the country out of the existing power crisis,” Industrial Association Peshawar president Numan Wazir told Dawn on Friday.

The federal government on Thursday announced a number of administrative and persuasive measures to contain loadshedding at below 980MW in peak summer.

The measures include closure of marketing centres and businesses after sunset, diversion of some industrial activity and use of tube-wells away from peak hours and staggering of weekly holidays in the industrial sector.

Mr Wazir was of the view that currently there was no shortage of electricity generation. “It is merely mismanagement on the part of the Water and Power Development Authority which has failed to manage smooth supply during peak hours.”

According to him, the country was currently suffering an overall power shortage of 1,500MW which could be covered through effective management.

He said that currently two part tariff meters, also known as time of the day (ToD) meters, were installed at the industrial sector which divided the power consumption between normal and peak hours. Power tariff during peak hours, which varies during summer and winter seasons, is normally higher than normal hours.

Mr Wazir suggested that these two part tariff meters should also be installed for domestic and commercial consumers in business centres and shops and timings of the consumption should be bifurcated in four or three levels instead of the existing two stages.

“The government will not need to close markets after 8pm, if it extends four or three part tariff meters to domestic and commercial business places,” he said.